Do Urbanization and Weather Shape the Timing of Breeding in European Starlings?
Disciplines
Behavior and Ethology | Ornithology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Do Urbanization and Weather Shape the Timing of Breeding in European Starlings?
Emmalyn Maltos and Sarah Guindre-Parker
Each year, seasonally breeding birds are faced with a decision of when to initiate breeding in the spring. Because of year to year differences in environmental conditions, the phenology of animals—cyclic, seasonal events in a species’ life cycle—varies across years. In light of climate change, understanding the factors that shape phenological decisions in animals is key to understanding they will cope with global warming. In this study, we will explore how urbanization, temperature and precipitation affect the timing of breeding in European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris) across the United States. We used a large community science dataset collected in North America to explore how different regional weather patterns and urbanization shape the timing of egg laying in this species. We will present results on whether urbanization or weather shape the lay dates of European Starlings. This study will provide important insight into how two of the largest threats to songbirds—urbanization and climate change—impact key breeding decisions and may thus affect populations. v
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CSM - Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Sarah Guindre-Parker
Do Urbanization and Weather Shape the Timing of Breeding in European Starlings?
Do Urbanization and Weather Shape the Timing of Breeding in European Starlings?
Emmalyn Maltos and Sarah Guindre-Parker
Each year, seasonally breeding birds are faced with a decision of when to initiate breeding in the spring. Because of year to year differences in environmental conditions, the phenology of animals—cyclic, seasonal events in a species’ life cycle—varies across years. In light of climate change, understanding the factors that shape phenological decisions in animals is key to understanding they will cope with global warming. In this study, we will explore how urbanization, temperature and precipitation affect the timing of breeding in European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris) across the United States. We used a large community science dataset collected in North America to explore how different regional weather patterns and urbanization shape the timing of egg laying in this species. We will present results on whether urbanization or weather shape the lay dates of European Starlings. This study will provide important insight into how two of the largest threats to songbirds—urbanization and climate change—impact key breeding decisions and may thus affect populations. v