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An inventory of the possible effects of climatic change on western palearctic migratory birds

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Abstract

This paper presents an assessment of the possible effects of future climatic change on migratory birds. The assessment is based on two approaches: firstly an inventory is made of the environmental factors that may change which directly affect migratory birds. These factors include physical (temperature, hydrology, ocean and air streaming patterns) as well as biological (floral and faunal composition of ecosystems) and landuse aspects of the environment.

Secondly, these possible changes were related to the annual cycles of migratory birds in order to estimate the problems that different groups of migratory birds have to cope with at various stages in their annual cycle. It is concluded that many migratory bird species will be influenced by climatic change, leading to adaptations in the birds annual cycle. The biggest problems may arise for those birds which depend on wetlands, because many of these wetlands may dessicate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nature Conservation Department, Agricultural University, Wageningen, Ritzema bosweg 32a, 6703 AZ, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Herman T. H. M. Meekes

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  1. Herman T. H. M. Meekes
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Meekes, H.T.H.M. An inventory of the possible effects of climatic change on western palearctic migratory birds. Wetlands Ecol Manage 2, 31–36 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00178132

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