Mind the wind: microclimate effects on incubation effort of an arctic seabird. Issue 7 (21st February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Høyvik Hilde, Christoffer; Pélabon, Christophe; Guéry, Loreleï; Gabrielsen, Geir Wing; Descamps, Sébastien
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 6:Issue 7(2016:Apr.)
• Page Start: 1914
• Page End: 1921
• Publication Date: 2016-02-21
• Subjects: Climate change -- common eider -- incubation -- life‐history -- microclimate -- nest shelter -- nest site selection -- wind; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1988
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

Abstract: The energetic costs of reproduction in birds strongly depend on the climate experienced during incubation. Climate change and increasing frequency of extreme weather events may severely affect these costs, especially for species incubating in extreme environments. In this 3‐year study, we used an experimental approach to investigate the effects of microclimate and nest shelter on the incubation effort of female common eiders ( Somateria mollissima ) in a wild Arctic population. We added artificial shelters to a random selection of nesting females, and compared incubation effort, measured as body mass loss during incubation, between females with and without shelter. Nonsheltered females had a higher incubation effort than females with artificial shelters. In nonsheltered females, higher wind speeds increased the incubation effort, while artificially sheltered females experienced no effect of wind. Although increasing ambient temperatures tended to decrease incubation effort, this effect was negligible in the absence of wind. Humidity had no marked effect on incubation effort. This study clearly displays the direct effect of a climatic variable on an important aspect of avian life‐history. By showing that increasing wind speed counteracts the energetic benefits of a rising ambient temperature, we were able to demonstrate that a climatic variable other than temperature may also affect wild populations and need to be taken into account when predicting the effects of climate change. Abstract : While studies of the effects of climate change on animal populations have essentially focused on the effect of temperature, we show here that wind has a direct negative effect on an avian life‐history trait. This underlines the need for further research on the effects of wind on wild populations in the Arctic regions.