Effects of severe weather on reproduction for sympatric songbirds in an alpine environment: Interactions of climate extremes influence nesting success

• DOI: 10.1642/auk-16-271.1
• Publication Date: 2017-06-07T17:44:41Z
• Authors: Kathy Martin; Scott Wilson; Elizabeth C. MacD...; Alaine F. Camfield; Michaela Martin; Sarah A. Trefry
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; 13. Climate action; 01 natural sciences

ABSTRACT We examined the impact of daily and severe multiday weather events on nest survival of Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris) and Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) breeding sympatrically in alpine habitat. The two species' thermal regimes varied. The breeding season of Horned Larks was ∼2°C colder and had more precipitation and more storms than that of Savannah Sparrows, which initiated laying 2 wk later. The breeding season of Savannah Sparrows was, on average, 27% shorter than that of Horned Larks. Overall daily nest survival (DNS) was similar for the two species, but Savannah Sparrows had more failure due to abandonment (33% of nests) than Horned Larks (10%). Using Program MARK and Akaike's Information Criterion model selection to evaluate effects of daily and cumulative temperature and precipitation on DNS, we found no direct effect of daily temperature on nest survival, but nest survival declined in colder years for both species. For Horned Larks, the top nest survival models includ...