scholarly journals Distribution of boreal toad populations in relation to estimated UV-B dose in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blake R Hossack ◽  
Stephen A Diamond ◽  
Paul Stephen Corn
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Ultraviolet B ◽  
Glacier National Park ◽  
Embryo Survival ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Forest Density ◽  
High Elevations

A recent increase in ultraviolet B radiation is one hypothesis advanced to explain suspected or documented declines of the boreal toad (Bufo boreas Baird and Girard, 1852) across much of the western USA, where some experiments have shown ambient UV-B can reduce embryo survival. We examined B. boreas occupancy relative to daily UV-B dose at 172 potential breeding sites in Glacier National Park, Montana, to assess whether UV-B limits the distribution of toads. Dose estimates were based on ground-level UV-B data and the effects of elevation, local topographic and vegetative features, and attenuation in the water column. We also examined temporal trends in surface UV-B and spring snowpack to determine whether populations are likely to have experienced increased UV-B exposure in recent decades. We found no support for the hypothesis that UV-B limits the distribution of populations in the park, even when we analyzed high-elevation ponds separately. Instead, toads were more likely to breed in water bodies with higher estimated UV-B doses. The lack of a detectable trend in surface UV-B since 1979, combined with earlier snow melt in the region and increasing forest density at high elevations, suggests B. boreas embryos and larvae likely have not experienced increased UV-B.

scholarly journals High turn-over rates at the upper range limit and elevational source-sink dynamics in a widespread songbird

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin U. Grüebler ◽  
Johann von Hirschheydt ◽  
Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Range Limit ◽  
Apparent Survival ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Mobile Species ◽  
Source Sink ◽  
Turn Over ◽  
High Elevations

AbstractThe formation of an upper distributional range limit for species breeding along mountain slopes is often based on environmental gradients resulting in changing demographic rates towards high elevations. However, we still lack an empirical understanding of how the interplay of demographic parameters forms the upper range limit in highly mobile species. Here, we study apparent survival and within-study area dispersal over a 700 m elevational gradient in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) by using 15 years of capture-mark-recapture data. Annual apparent survival of adult breeding birds decreased while breeding dispersal probability of adult females, but not males increased towards the upper range limit. Individuals at high elevations dispersed to farms situated at elevations lower than would be expected by random dispersal. These results suggest higher turn-over rates of breeding individuals at high elevations, an elevational increase in immigration and thus, within-population source-sink dynamics between low and high elevations. The formation of the upper range limit therefore is based on preference for low-elevation breeding sites and immigration to high elevations. Thus, shifts of the upper range limit are not only affected by changes in the quality of high-elevation habitats but also by factors affecting the number of immigrants produced at low elevations.

scholarly journals The Within-Population Formation of the Upper Range Limit in a Songbird

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Grüebler ◽  
Johann von Hirschheydt ◽  
Fränzi Korner-Nievergelt
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Range Limit ◽  
Apparent Survival ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Mobile Species ◽  
Random Dispersal ◽  
High Elevations

Abstract The formation of the upper distributional range limit of species at mountain slopes is often based on environmental gradients resulting in changing demographic rates towards high elevations. However, we still lack an empiric understanding of how the interplay of demographic parameters forms the upper range limit in highly mobile species. Here, we study apparent survival and within-study area dispersal over a 700 m elevational gradient in barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) by using 15 years of capture-mark-recapture data. Annual apparent survival of adult breeding birds decreased while breeding dispersal probability of adult females, but not males increased towards the upper range limit. Individuals at high elevations dispersed to farms situated at lower elevations than would be expected by random dispersal. These results suggest higher turn-over rates of breeding individuals at high elevations, an elevational increase in immigration and thus, within-population source-sink dynamics between low and high elevations. The formation of the upper range limit therefore is based on preference for low-elevation breeding sites and immigration to high elevations. Thus, shifts of the upper range limit are not only affected by changes in the quality of high-elevation habitats but also by factors affecting the number of immigrants produced at low elevations.

scholarly journals Differences in circulating corticosterone levels associated with elevation of breeding sites in Rufous-collared Sparrows Zonotrichia capensis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanina Poblete ◽  
Victor Gutierrez ◽  
Paulina L. González-Gómez ◽  
John C. Wingfield ◽  
Rodrigo A. Vásquez
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Evolutionary Mechanisms ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Zonotrichia Capensis ◽  
Adrenocortical Response ◽  
Breeding Seasons ◽  
High Elevations

AbstractTo facilitate breeding and any energetically costly activity, individuals of the same species can substantially vary their circulating corticosterone (CORT) levels to cope with local environmental conditions at different elevations. We compared baseline and the stress-induced plasma CORT levels during the parental care stage between free-living Rufous-collared Sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis) that breed at high (~ 2500 m) and low (~ 500 m) elevations in central Chile. We found that baseline CORT levels at different elevations were similar and that stress-induced levels were significantly lower in birds breeding at high elevation; however, we detected no sexual dimorphism in CORT levels related to elevation. We found that larger individuals had higher stress-induced CORT levels at low elevation regardless of sex. Our results show that environmental conditions at high elevation seem to be not severe enough to promote more elevated baseline CORT levels. However, breeding Rufous-collared Sparrow must still deal with both shorter breeding seasons and increased exposure to unpredictable events. Thus, a reduced stress response during the parental care stage would be more favorable for supporting breeding activities at high elevations. Future studies should focus on describing the life-history traits of these populations and the effects that other stressors, such as predation pressure and food availability, may have on the adrenocortical response in these environments to evaluate the consequences for survival and reproductive success. This information is important for enhancing our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that modulate variation in the adrenocortical response among populations of the same species.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document