Vertebrate phenology at similar latitudes: temperature responses differ between Poland and the United Kingdom

Sparks, Tim; Tryjanowski, Piotr; Cooke, Arnold; Crick, Humphrey; Kuzniak, Stanislaw. 2007 Vertebrate phenology at similar latitudes: temperature responses differ between Poland and the United Kingdom. Climate Research, 34. 93-98.

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Abstract/Summary

We examined the phenology of two amphibians (common frog Rana temporaria, common toad Bufo bufo) and one resident bird species (blackbird Turdus merula) at locations in Poland and in the UK on similar latitudes. The timing of phenology was earlier in the UK than in Poland, presumably as a consequence of a warmer maritime environment. This was further confirmed by the earlier frog spawn phenology in the warmer west of the UK than in the east. In the amphibians, the response to temperature was significantly greater in the UK than in Poland, although for the resident bird species the greater response in the UK did not achieve significance. These results suggest that species are adapted to local conditions. However if such adaptive strategies are not able to evolve rapidly to match rapidly changing climatic conditions then severe disruption to the least flexible elements in any system may result.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity > CC01A Detection and Attribution of Change in UK and European Ecosystems
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pywell
ISSN:	0936-577X
Format Availability:	Electronic, Print
Additional Keywords:	Rana temporaria, Bufo bufo, Turdus merula, temperature response rate, climate change, egg-laying, spawning
NORA Subject Terms:	Meteorology and Climatology Zoology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	01 Aug 2007 15:40 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/679

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Programmes:

CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity > CC01A Detection and Attribution of Change in UK and European Ecosystems

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Pywell

ISSN:

0936-577X

Format Availability:

Electronic, Print

Additional Keywords:

Rana temporaria, Bufo bufo, Turdus merula, temperature response rate, climate change, egg-laying, spawning