Can site and landscape‐scale environmental attributes buffer bird populations against weather events?

• DOI: 10.1111/ecog.00575
• Publication Date: 2014-04-02T10:33:11Z
• Authors: Stuart E. Newson; Tom H. Oliver; Simon Gillings; Humphrey Q. P. Crick; Michael D. Morecroft; Simon J. Duffield; Nicholas A. Macgr...; James W. Pearce‐H...
• Keywords: Landscape connectivity

Projected impacts of climate change on the populations and distributions species pose a challenge for conservationists. In response, number adaptation strategies to enable persist in changing have been proposed. Management maximise quality habitat at existing sites may reduce magnitude or frequency climate‐driven population declines. addition large‐scale management landscapes could potentially improve resilience by facilitating inter‐population movements. A reduction obstacles species’ range expansion, also allow track conditions better through shifts new locations, either regionally locally. However, despite strong theoretical base, there is limited empirical evidence support these interventions. This makes it difficult conservationists decide most appropriate strategy different circumstances. Here extensive data from long‐term monitoring woodland birds individual are used examine two‐way interactions between both weather count previous year. tests extent which site‐scale landscape‐scale attributes buffer against variation winter (a key driver bird size) facilitate subsequent growth. Our results provide some prediction that (patch isolation area habitat) influence ability withstand weather‐mediated These effects were apparent among generalist species. There was several, primarily specialist, more likely increase following decline where site landscape scales. concept conservation efforts make resilient change. However isolation, unlikely universal benefit all