澜沧江流域极端天气灾害特征及波动趋势

基于中国气象局国家气象信息中心提供的澜沧江1961—2010年气象资料,采用小波分析、EMD分解、CI指数、均生函数逐步回归模型、相关分析等方法,探讨19世纪末至21世纪初澜沧江流域极端天气灾害的变化特征,及其区域极端灾害变化和全球气候变化之间的联系。结果表明:(1)1961—2010年50a期间,年降水量趋于稳定,略有上升,但上升率较小,只有3.1848。年降水量距平分布图反映了降水量南多北少的区域差异,正负距平之间在-2到2之间,北部干旱出现的几率较大。(2)近20年来,澜沧江区域干旱次数明显上升,而澜沧江流域年暴雨频次在过去50a和未来的20a内没有明显的增加趋势,干旱频次未来20年内呈斜率0.2635的上升态势,未来该区域极端天气灾害主要是干旱灾害。(3)该区域降水和暴雨频次存在多尺度特征,两种研究方法都得到澜沧江流域降水量存在2、7、15a的变化周期,只是两种方法得出的主周期不同,EMD方法比小波方法更适合处理非平稳、非线性信号,可以认为澜沧江流域降水量存在2、7、15a的变化周期,且主周期为准2a。(4)降水量和暴雨频度序列的IMF1和IMF2周期在2—7 a之间,与ENSO在年际变化上的信号相吻合,推断澜沧江流域暴雨和干旱灾害与ENSO有重要联系,且随着气温升高干旱灾害频次明显增加,显示区域极端气温灾害的变化与全球气候变暖有某种关联,是全球气候变化的区域响应表现形式之一。     

近60年秦岭山地旱涝变化规律

随着极端气候变化,山地灾害频发。基于秦岭山地32个气象站点的实测数据,以标准化降水蒸散指数(SPEI)为旱涝量化指标,研究了过去60年秦岭山地旱涝时空变化特征、频率、周期等变化规律,结果表明：(1)1960—2019年,秦岭山地年SPEI指数以0.124/10a的速度下降,其中,90.23%的面积呈显著下降趋势,1.96%的面积呈显著上升趋势,并在1990年发生干旱突变;秦岭北坡的干旱化趋势大于南坡,且高海拔地区干旱化更为明显。(2)突变前秦岭山地湿润比例平均值为36.94%,突变后下降为18.19%;干旱比例由突变前的17.64%急剧上升到突变后的38.19%;突变前30年秦岭山地极端干旱事件、严重干旱事件极少发生,发生频率几乎为0;突变后30年严重干旱和极端干旱事件发生频率增加,秦岭南北坡极端湿润和严重湿润事件近乎销声匿迹。(3)整体上,太阳黑子与秦岭山地旱涝变化以显著负相关关系为主;ENSO事件对秦岭山地的旱涝变化影响较大,在La Nina年易发生洪涝事件,在El Ni1o年易发生干旱事件;在不同时域范围内,海表温度距平(SSTA)对秦岭山地旱涝变化的影响不同：1990年以前,S...     

开都河流域天山桦树轮宽度年表的建立及其气候响应

利用开都河流域中段采集的天山桦树芯样本,建立了这一采样点的树轮宽度年表。该年表的特征参数与其他地区已有的桦木树轮宽度年表相近,且能较好地反映研究区内天山桦树轮宽度变化的基本特征。该年表与研究区内雪岭云杉树轮宽度年表间的相关分析表明,两者在全频域、高频域及低频域上均存在显著正相关。树木生长气候响应分析结果显示,天山桦树轮宽度与降水量的相关则不显著;而与上年12月呈显著正相关(r= 0.346,P < 0.01,n=59),与当年6月的平均气温呈显著负相关(r=-0.312,P < 0.01,n=60)。该年表存在2.1、4.0a和~50a变化准周期,并且其与3月多元El Nio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)指数存在相似的变化趋势。     

基于SPEI的北京低频干旱与气候指数关系

干旱是北京地区发生最频繁、波及面积最大、持续时间最长的一种自然灾害。基于1868—2010年每月的降水和平均气温数据,应用综合了降水和气温变化共同效应的新的干旱指标标准化降水蒸散指数(SPEI)定量描述北京地区的干湿状况,并利用历史旱灾记录对其进行验证;采用连续小波转换(CWT)分析近150 a来的干旱振荡特征,并利用交叉小波变换(XWT)探论了干旱与大尺度气候因子之间的关系。结果表明:1)SPEI揭示的干旱与历史记录比较吻合,证明该指数可以在多时间尺度上有效地反映北京地区旱涝程度及其持续时间;2)北京地区干旱具有80—120个月年际尺度和250个月、480个月年代际尺度的周期振荡,呈现了同大尺度气候因子相似的变化特征;3)北京干旱变化与四大气候因子存在着多时间尺度的显著相关性,SPEI和北大西洋涛动(NAO)、北极涛动(AO)、太平洋涛动(PDO)都具有100—120个月和250个月的年代际主共振周期,而SPEI和厄尔尼诺-南方涛动(ENSO)在整个研究期内都表现出极显著的32—64个月年际主共振周期,同时SPEI与4个气候因子在共振周期上均体现出比较明确的时滞特征(2—6月不等)。因此,可以基于大尺度气象因子结合SPEI预测北京地区未来的干旱变化。     

西北太平洋柔鱼栖息地环境因子分析及其对资源丰度的影响

柔鱼(Ommastrephes bartramii)是西北太平洋海域重要的经济头足类,短生命周期的生活史特征决定其资源丰度易受海洋环境变化影响。根据1998—2010年我国鱿钓船生产统计资料和环境资料,包括海表温度(SST)和叶绿素浓度(Chl-a)数据,结合Nio 3.4区海表温距平值(SSTA),分析了SST和Chl-a浓度的季节和年际变化特征,并分别探讨了SST和Chl-a浓度距平值与Nio 3.4区SSTA及柔鱼资源丰度之间的关系。结果表明,产卵场海域Chl-a浓度冬季高夏季低,SST则夏季高冬季低;育肥场Chl-a和SST均呈夏季高冬季低变化,但6—12月份Chl-a浓度波动明显。产卵场和育肥场SST及Chl-a浓度年际变化明显。同时研究发现,厄尔尼诺、拉尼娜和正常年份时Nio 3.4区SSTA对柔鱼产卵场和育肥场环境的调控机制不同:拉尼娜和正常年份产卵场和育肥场温度上升,叶绿素浓度变化幅度小,有利于资源量补充,产量较高;厄尔尼诺年份温度和叶绿素均降低,尤其育肥场叶绿素浓度,对资源量产生不利影响,产量锐减。研究利用多元线性回归分别建立了基于温度和叶绿素的柔鱼资源丰度的预测模型,两者均能很好的预测柔鱼资源丰度(P0.05),但基于叶绿素的预测模型优于温度模型。     

UK37沉积地层记录：三门湾海表温度(SST)和EI Niño现象及其对大型底栖动物生命活动的影响

应用U K37估算三门湾（1916～2003年）表层海水温度,SST波动范围在15.97～18.00℃之间,年平均为17.03℃,此计算值比当年实测海水全年平均温度低3.52℃,与秋季海水实测温度相接近。研究显示出,三门湾的EI Nio事件在大尺度上与东太平洋一样,均受制于气候影响因素,但在变化尺度上又受到地理位置和地方性气候(季风)的影响,事件在形式和年代上相互对应,但其颤动幅度远不如东太平洋强烈。同时通过比较EI Nio期间（2003/2002）和非EI Nio期间（2006/2005）大型底栖生物的群落结构变动信号、生物量、栖息密度以及物种多样性等,研究显示出三门湾若干大型底栖生物对EI Nio事件产生响应迹象,若干大型底栖生物对EI Nio的响应主要是通过海洋环流的影响来体现生命和生态效应的,主要表现在改变了底栖生物种类数和多样性、以及生命活动及栖息密度分布模式。在EI Nio影响下,台湾暖流入侵势力加强,2003/2002年底栖生物群落种类数减少与海流入侵及盐度密切相关;通过与同海域浮游动物对比研究,三门湾海域浮游动物和底栖生物对EI Nio的生态响应均较大,前者可能与三门湾海域水域较浅,外海暖水从底部入侵改变水温和盐度,直接影响底栖生物的生态环境,致使种类数大大减少有关;而后者由于入侵暖水强度增大,携带大量暖水性浮游动物,呈现出在EI Nio时期浮游动物种类数、生物量和丰度有偏高趋势。     

近50年华北地区冬小麦低温灾害的时空演变特征

低温灾害是华北地区冬小麦的主要灾害之一,全生育期内均可发生。本文基于气象站逐日最低气温和华北各地冬小麦不同发育阶段低温灾害的界限温度,对华北地区近50a冬小麦低温灾害进行定量反演,分析其演变特征。结果表明:近50 a华北地区冬小麦生长季内低温灾害的频次和强度均呈现随年代递减的总体趋势,全生育期的低温灾害天数由20世纪60年代的平均50 d以上降至21世纪前10年的不足40 d,低温灾害指数则由0.6以上普遍降至0.4以下;其时空演变特征表现为,华北东部变速快于西部,近20 a变速快于前30 a;在冬小麦不同发育阶段,低温灾害频次的变化趋势也存在明显差异,在冬小麦越冬和返青阶段低温灾害的发生频次呈现明显随年代递减趋势,而冬小麦分蘖、拔节、抽穗等发育阶段低温灾害的发生频次则一直维持较高水平;近50 a华北地区冬小麦发生低温灾害的日最低气温平均上升了1~2℃,但同期发生低温灾害的极端值则无明显年代际变化。     

气候变化背景下中国农业气候资源变化Ⅵ.黑龙江省三江平原地区降水资源变化特征及其对春玉米生产的可能影响

利用黑龙江省三江平原地区1959-2007年降水资料和1983-2007年春玉米生育期资料,采用百分位法确定了各站点的极端降水阈值,结合极端降水频次、强度、最长连续(无)降水日数、极端降水贡献率等指标,分析了三江平原地区极端降水的年际间变化特征、不同等级的降水量变化以及春玉米各生育阶段极端降水的分配特征.结果表明:1959-2007年间,研究区域年降水量呈略微减少趋势,且年降水日数的减幅远大于降水量,年内降水量分布更趋于集中;极端降水频次和强度均呈减少趋势,极端降水频次的年际间波动大于极端降水强度;年极端降水量占全年降水量的比例略有减少,减少趋势不显著;年小雨日数极显著减少,而年中雨日数和年内大到暴雨日数的减少趋势不显著.三江平原地区春玉米各生育阶段的极端降水分配比例由高到低依次为生殖生长阶段、营养生长与生殖生长并存阶段、营养生长阶段和出苗前;春玉米生长季内降水量占年降水量的比例显著减少,导致春玉米生长季缺水的风险加大;春玉米生长季内最长连续无降水日数呈极显著增加趋势,增幅达1.1 d·(10 a)-1,而最长连续降水日数却呈极显著下降趋势,减幅为0.5 d·(10 a)-1,说明研究区自然降水条件下春玉米生长季干旱风险有所加大.     

1981—2011 年间东海赤潮发生与厄尔尼诺关系分析

分析1981—2011 年东海海域赤潮发生次数、赤潮生物种类数以及与El Niño 关系, 结果表明: 东海的赤潮发生以2000年为界可划分为2 个阶段, 1981—2000 年为第一阶段(初级阶段), 赤潮年均8 次, 赤潮生物种数年均4 种, 总体处于发生频次较低水平; 2001—2011 年为第二阶段(高发阶段), 赤潮发生的频次是第一阶段的6.4 倍, 年均引起赤潮生物种数是第一阶段的2.8倍; El Niño 次年东海赤潮生物种类数相对于El Niño 年平均增加6.6%, 赤潮生物种类数平均增加56.6%, 对El Niño 第三年影响小于第二年。El Niño 年Niño 3.4 指数与次年赤潮生物的种类数变化率相关系数为0.70, 为中等相关水平, 均高于El Niño 当年和第三年, 表明El Niño 将显著影响次年的赤潮生物种类数量。     

1961-2014年中国沿海极端气温事件变化及区域差异分析

基于1961-2014年156个地面气象站日尺度的气温数据集,利用趋势分析、小波分析、Mann-Kendall检验、累积距平、Pettitt检验、主成分分析等方法分析了中国沿海地区极端气温事件的时空变化特征。结果表明：中国沿海及各子区域极端气温暖指数呈上升趋势,冷指数和气温日较差呈下降趋势,夜指数的年际倾向率明显大于昼指数的年际倾向率;除相对指数、极高值指数和冷（暖）持续日数的多年均值在各子区域之间相差不大以外,霜冻日数、冰冻日数以及气温日较差的多年均值从北至南依次递减,与之相反,夏季日数、热夜日数、极端气温极低值指数以及生长季长度的多年均值则从北至南依次增加。各子区域极端气温指数年际间的主周期介于2-8 a,均无显著的年代际震荡周期;各子区域极端气温指数的突变主要发生在1980s和1990s期间,冷指数和极低值指数的突变时间稍早于暖指数和极高值指数的突变时间,突变后,极端暖事件和气温的极值事件进入多发阶段,极端冷事件进入相对少发的阶段;主成分分析中第一主成分高载荷的极端气温指数对日均气温和日最高（低）气温均有较好的指示性,这类极端指数两两之间的相关性也较强,低载荷的极端气温指数对日均气温和日最高（低）气温的指示性相对较弱,与其他极端气温指数之间的相关性也均较弱。     

黄淮海地区干旱变化特征及其对气候变化的响应

为了探究气候变化背景下黄淮海地区的干旱特征,基于黄淮海平原34个气象站点的1961—2012年气象数据,使用相对湿润指数探讨分析了近50年黄淮海地区冬小麦生长季及4个季节干旱的时空变化及其对气候变化的响应。结果表明:(1)在整个分析期内(1961—2011)冬小麦生长季干旱减轻,但是在近20年干旱有了加重的趋势,且干旱加重的趋势是一种突变现象。(2)黄淮海地区1961年以来,春季、冬季以及冬小麦生长季内均表现为不同程度的干旱,干旱频率都达到90%以上,其中春、冬两季最为干旱,3个时段整个黄淮海中北部地区都为高频干旱区域,且4个季节及冬小麦生长季干旱程度与干旱频率的区域分布均表现为由南向北递增的趋势。(3)黄淮海地区的干旱特征对降水、太阳辐射和相对湿度这3个气候要素的变化最为敏感。     

Analysis on spatial and temporal characteristics drought of Yunnan Province

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the global warming trend is an increasing cause for concern. Frequent extreme weather events occur under the conditions of global change. Exploring the relationship between climate change and drought disasters using climate change performance characteristics has become a prime research problem. It is increasingly important to study the temporal and spatial distribution of aridity and drought causes in the southwest region. We collected meteorological data from 16 meteorological stations from 1956 to 2010 in Yunnan Province of Southwest China, and used a composite index (CI) of meteorological drought to analyze temporal and spatial characteristics of droughts in the province. Based on daily CI values of each station during the 50 years, drought processes there were confirmed individually. Occurrence frequencies, scopes and severities of meteorological droughts were computed and analyzed to reveal their temporal and spatial occurrence patterns in different parts of the province. The results are as follows: (1) Temperature in the province, showing the well-being of the turn, has an obvious 4-year principal cycle. Temperature gradually rose after 1980. Fluctuation of precipitation was relatively stable, with a cycle of about 2 years. (2) On the spatial scale, drought occurred over wide areas in the province. Its overall distribution showed a gradual increase from northwest to southeast. Drought days were the most numerous in the southeast, and fewer in the southwest. (3) Examining seasonal variation, the occurrence of spring droughts was high. The multi-year average of drought frequency exceeded 70%. The frequency of summer and autumn drought was less, and that of winter drought was highest. (4) The causes of drought are complex, comprising the combined effects of atmospheric circulation, geography, and human factors. There was a strong negative correlation between the interannual variation of drought days and precipitation anomaly values. With warming temperatures, the chances for regional drought significantly increased, but the interaction mechanism remains unexplained and should be explored in the future. The climate in Yunnan Province has typical characteristics. The temperature and extreme weather of recent years has certainly changed in response to global climate change, and has caused regional disasters. The aforementioned mechanism represents the next research direction.     

Paleoclimate of La Guajira, Colombia; by the growth rings of Capparis odoratissima (Capparidaceae)

There is great concern about the effect of climate change in arid and subarid areas of the tropics. Climate change combined with other anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, fires and over-grazing can accelerate their degradation and, consequently, the increases in losses of biological and economic productivity. Climate models, both local and global, predict that rainfall in the arid Peninsula of La Guajira in the Colombian Caribbean would be reduced and temperature would be increased as a result of climate change. However, as there are only suitable climate records since 1972, it is not possible to verify if, indeed, this is happening. To try to verify the hypothesis of reducing rainfall and rising temperatures we developed a growth ring chronology of Capparis odoratissima in the Middle Peninsula of La Guajira with 17 trees and 45 series which attain 48 years back. We use standard dendrochronological methods that showed statistically significant linear relationship with local climatic variables such as air temperature, sea surface temperature (SST), annual precipitation and wind speed; we also reach to successful relationship of the chronology with global climatic variables as the indices SOI and MEI of the ENSO phenomenon. The transfer functions estimated with the time series (1955 and 2003) do not showed statistically significant trends, indicating that during this period of time the annual precipitation or temperatures have not changed. The annual nature of C. odoratissima growth rings, the possibility of cross-dated among the samples of this species, and the high correlation with local and global climatic variables indicate a high potential of this species for dendrochronological studies in this part of the American continent.     

基于SPEI指数的长江中下游流域干旱时空特征分析

基于长江中下游流域1961—2015年129个气象站点的逐日气温和降水数据,利用标准化降水蒸散指数(SPEI),对长江中下游流域近55年年尺度及各季节干旱变化趋势、站次比、强度和频率进行了分析,并探讨了干旱和区域气温、降水变化及ENSO的关系。结果表明:(1)在区域尺度,近55年长江中下游流域年尺度、春季和秋季呈干旱化趋势,春季干旱化趋势显著;夏季和冬季呈湿润化趋势。空间变化上,对于年尺度,汉江流域、中游干流区及洞庭湖流域以干旱化趋势为主,鄱阳湖流域、下游干流区和太湖流域以湿润化趋势为主;春季和秋季分别有96.90%和92.25%的站点呈干旱化趋势;夏季和冬季分别有82.95%和72.87%的站点呈湿润化趋势。(2)年尺度、春季和秋季干旱站次比及强度均呈增加趋势,春旱站次比与强度增加趋势显著;夏季和冬季干旱站次比和强度均呈下降趋势。(3)年尺度和春季干旱频率在21世纪初均达到最高,年尺度、春季和夏季干旱频率从20世纪90年代到21世纪初均呈增加趋势。(4)春、秋季干旱化趋势与降水量的减少及气温的上升相关,夏、冬季降水量的增加使得夏、冬季呈湿润化趋势。冬季SOI和次年春季干旱相关性极显著,冬季发生拉尼娜事件时,次年春季更易发生干旱。     

Effects of extreme weather events and legume presence on mycorrhization of Plantago lanceolata and Holcus lanatus in the field

Little is known about direct and indirect effects of extreme weather events on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under field conditions. In a field experiment, we investigated the response of mycorrhization to drought and heavy rain in grassland communities. We quantified AMF biomass in soil, mycorrhization of roots of the grass Holcus lanatus and the forb Plantago lanceolata, as well as plant performance. Plants were grown in four‐species communities with or without a legume. We hypothesised that drought increases and heavy rain decreases mycorrhization, and that higher mycorrhization will be linked to improved stress resistance and higher biomass production. Soil AMF biomass increased under both weather extremes. Heavy rain generally benefitted plants and increased arbuscules in P. lanceolata. Drought neither reduced plant performance nor root mycorrhization. Arbuscules increased in H. lanatus several weeks after drought, and in P. lanceolata several weeks after heavy rain spells. These long‐lasting effects of weather events on mycorrhization highlight the indirect influence of climate on AMF via their host plant. Legume presence increased plant community biomass, but had only minor effects on mycorrhization. Arbuscule colonisation was negatively correlated with senescence during the dry summer. Mycorrhization and biomass production in P. lanceolata were positively related. However, increased mycorrhization was related to less biomass in the grass. AMF mycelium in soil might generally increase under extreme events, root colonisation, however, is host species specific. This might amplify community shifts in grassland under climate change by further increasing stress resistance of species that already benefit from changed precipitation.     

Beyond gradual warming: extreme weather events alter flower phenology of European grassland and heath species

Shifts in the phenology of plant and animal species or in the migratory arrival of birds are seen as ‘fingerprints’ of global warming. However, even if such responses have been documented in large continent‐wide datasets of the northern hemisphere, all studies to date correlate the phenological pattern of various taxa with gradual climatic trends. Here, we report a previously unobserved phenomenon: severe drought and heavy rain events caused phenological shifts in plants of the same magnitude as one decade of gradual warming. We present data from two vegetation periods in an experimental setting containing the first evidence of shifted phenological response of 10 grassland and heath species to simulated 100‐year extreme weather events in Central Europe. Averaged over all species, 32 days of drought significantly advanced the mid‐flowering date by 4 days. The flowering length was significantly extended by 4 days. Heavy rainfall (170 mm over 14 days) had no significant effect on the mid‐flowering date. However, heavy rainfall reduced the flowering length by several days. Observed shifts were species‐specific, (e.g. drought advanced the mid‐flowering date for Holcus lanatus by 1.5 days and delayed the mid‐flowering date for Calluna vulgaris by 5.7 days, heavy rain advanced mid‐flowering date of Lotus corniculatus by 26.6 days and shortened the flowering length of the same species by 36.9 days). Interestingly, the phenological response of individual species was modified by community composition. For example, the mid‐flowering date of C. vulgaris was delayed after drought by 9.3 days in communities composed of grasses and dwarf shrubs compared with communities composed of dwarf shrubs only. This indicates that responses to extreme events are context specific. Additionally, the phenological response of experimental communities to extreme weather events can be modified by the functional diversity of a stand. Future studies on phenological response patterns related to climate change would profit from explicitly addressing the role of extreme weather events.     

Climate teleconnections and recent patterns of human and animal disease outbreaks

Background

Recent clusters of outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases (Rift Valley fever and chikungunya) in Africa and parts of the Indian Ocean islands illustrate how interannual climate variability influences the changing risk patterns of disease outbreaks. Although Rift Valley fever outbreaks have been known to follow periods of above-normal rainfall, the timing of the outbreak events has largely been unknown. Similarly, there is inadequate knowledge on climate drivers of chikungunya outbreaks. We analyze a variety of climate and satellite-derived vegetation measurements to explain the coupling between patterns of climate variability and disease outbreaks of Rift Valley fever and chikungunya.

Methods and Findings

We derived a teleconnections map by correlating long-term monthly global precipitation data with the NINO3.4 sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly index. This map identifies regional hot-spots where rainfall variability may have an influence on the ecology of vector borne disease. Among the regions are Eastern and Southern Africa where outbreaks of chikungunya and Rift Valley fever occurred 2004–2009. Chikungunya and Rift Valley fever case locations were mapped to corresponding climate data anomalies to understand associations between specific anomaly patterns in ecological and climate variables and disease outbreak patterns through space and time. From these maps we explored associations among Rift Valley fever disease occurrence locations and cumulative rainfall and vegetation index anomalies. We illustrated the time lag between the driving climate conditions and the timing of the first case of Rift Valley fever. Results showed that reported outbreaks of Rift Valley fever occurred after ∼3–4 months of sustained above-normal rainfall and associated green-up in vegetation, conditions ideal for Rift Valley fever mosquito vectors. For chikungunya we explored associations among surface air temperature, precipitation anomalies, and chikungunya outbreak locations. We found that chikungunya outbreaks occurred under conditions of anomalously high temperatures and drought over Eastern Africa. However, in Southeast Asia, chikungunya outbreaks were negatively correlated (p<0.05) with drought conditions, but positively correlated with warmer-than-normal temperatures and rainfall.

Conclusions/Significance

Extremes in climate conditions forced by the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) lead to severe droughts or floods, ideal ecological conditions for disease vectors to emerge, and may result in epizootics and epidemics of Rift Valley fever and chikungunya. However, the immune status of livestock (Rift Valley fever) and human (chikungunya) populations is a factor that is largely unknown but very likely plays a role in the spatial-temporal patterns of these disease outbreaks. As the frequency and severity of extremes in climate increase, the potential for globalization of vectors and disease is likely to accelerate. Understanding the underlying patterns of global and regional climate variability and their impacts on ecological drivers of vector-borne diseases is critical in long-range planning of appropriate disease and disease-vector response, control, and mitigation strategies.     

Global climate cycles and cyclones: consequences for rainfall patterns and lemur reproduction in southeastern Madagascar

Most studies that examine the influence of climatic change on flora and fauna have focused on northern latitudes; however, there is increasing recognition that tropical regions are also being affected. Despite this, regions such as Madagascar, which are rich in endemic biodiversity but may have low adaptive capacity to climatic change, are poorly represented in studies examining the effects of climate variability on biota. We investigated how El Niño Southern Oscillations (ENSO) influence precipitation patterns in the rainforest region of southeastern Madagascar (1962–2006) and then constructed models to assess the potential contribution of climatic variables on the reproductive parameters of the Milne Edward's sifaka, a threatened lemur species (Propithecus edwardsi), over a 20‐year period. The Southern Oscillation Index of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the tropical Pacific was associated with precipitation patterns including wetter wet seasons during warmer phases and drier dry seasons following cooler phases. The best‐supported models of lemur fecundity (female offspring per female that survive to 1 year of age per year) included cyclone presence during gestation and ENSO phase before conception and during the first 6 months of life. Models also suggested that heavy rains during gestation may limit birth rates and that prolonged drought during female lactation may limit first year offspring survival; although these variables were given little importance for predicting overall fecundity relative to ENSO phases and cyclone presence. Our results linking lemur reproduction with climatic variability suggest that climatic changes may be an additional threat to Madagascar's unique and already endangered flora and fauna. The association between precipitation in southeastern Madagascar and SST anomalies in the tropical Pacific suggests that dynamics of wildlife populations even in tropical areas such as Madagascar can be affected by global climate cycles making them potentially vulnerable to global climate change.