New Research from Oxford University has revealed that shifts in the timing of egg laying by great tits in response to climate change vary markedly between breeding sites within the same woodland and that this variation is linked to the health of nearby oak trees.
New Research from Oxford University has revealed that shifts in the timing of egg laying by great tits in response to climate change vary markedly between breeding sites within the same woodland and that this variation is linked to the health of nearby oak trees.
Great tits in the UK lay their eggs around 14 days earlier than they did in the 1960’s. As a result, these songbirds are keeping pace with the other members of their food chain - winter moth caterpillars and the oak trees on which these insects feed - which have also advanced their spring timing in response to climate change over recent years.
‘Much of our understanding of how animals respond to climate change comes from studies that assume all individuals within a population experience the same environment. However, we know this isn’t the case, particularly for animals that are limited in how far they can travel from dependent offspring.
Neighbouring individuals may experience very different environments. Studying these differences helps us understand what might limit the ability of animals to adjust to changing environments and therefore the scope for populations to cope with climate change.’ Said Dr Ella Cole, Oxford University, who co-led the research.
Read more at: University of Oxford
Photo Credit: blende12 via Pixabay
