Meeting Abstract

64.4  Monday, Jan. 6 08:45  Warmer spring temperatures predict earlier summer molt in a songbird BUTLER, L.K.*; HOPE, S.; STABILE, F.; OUELLETTE, M.; The College of New Jersey, Ewing lbutler@tcnj.edu

The atmosphere has warmed significantly at northern latitudes over the past century, and understanding effects of this climate change on life is a major concern for conservation. Whereas earlier nesting is now well-documented in birds in years with warmer springs, no study has investigated effects of a warmer climate on the life-history stage that follows nesting in most songbirds: the annual molt. We studied climate effects on molt dynamics in a forest population of a common and widespread resident songbird, the Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis). Over four years, average March temperature strongly predicted the timing of the start of molt three months later, with molt starting earlier in warmer years and later in cooler years. Analysis of historical museum specimens collected over the past 118 years revealed the same pattern. These results suggest that spring temperatures influence the timing of summer molt via well-described effects on the timing of nesting. Thus a warming climate may result in earlier molting dates in northern resident songbirds.