Global warming and arctic terns: Estimating climate change impacts on the world's longest migration |
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Authors: | Joanne M Morten Pearse J Buchanan C Egevang Isolde A Glissenaar Sara M Maxwell Nicole Parr James A Screen Freydís Vigfúsdóttir Noam S Vogt-Vincent Daniel A Williams Ned C Williams Matthew J Witt Lucy A Hawkes William Thurston |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Hatherly Laboratories, Exeter, UK;2. Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK;3. Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Nuuk, Greenland;4. Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK;5. School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, University of Washington, Bothell, Washington, USA;6. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK;7. School of Social Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland;8. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK;9. Met Office, Exeter, UK |
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Abstract: | Climate change is one of the top three global threats to seabirds, particularly species that visit polar regions. Arctic terns migrate between both polar regions annually and rely on productive marine areas to forage, on sea ice for rest and foraging, and prevailing winds during flight. Here, we report 21st-century trends in environmental variables affecting arctic terns at key locations along their Atlantic/Indian Ocean migratory flyway during the non-breeding seasons, identified through tracking data. End-of-century climate change projections were derived from Earth System Models and multi-model means calculated in two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways: ‘middle-of-the-road’ and ‘fossil-fuelled development’ scenarios. Declines in North Atlantic primary production emerge as a major impact to arctic terns likely to affect their foraging during the 21st century under a ‘fossil-fuelled development’ scenario. Minimal changes are, however, projected at three other key regions visited by arctic terns (Benguela Upwelling, Subantarctic Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean). Southern Ocean sea ice extent is likely to decline, but the magnitude of change and potential impacts on tern survival are uncertain. Small changes (<1 m s−1) in winds are projected in both scenarios, but with minimal likely impacts on migration routes and duration. However, Southern Ocean westerlies are likely to strengthen and contract closer to the continent, which may require arctic terns to shift routes or flight strategies. Overall, we find minor effects of climate change on the migration of arctic terns, with the exception of poorer foraging in the North Atlantic. However, given that arctic terns travel over huge spatial scales and live for decades, they integrate minor changes in conditions along their migration routes such that the sum effect may be greater than the parts. Meeting carbon emission targets is vital to slow these end-of-century climatic changes and minimise extinction risk for a suite of polar species. |
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Keywords: | arctic tern climate change CMIP6 migration net primary productivity sea ice Sterna paradisaea wind |
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