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Changes in seasonal movements and population dynamics of migratory birds in response to ongoing changes resulting from global climate changes are a topic of great interest to conservation scientists and birdwatchers around the world. Because of their dependence on specific habitats and resources in different geographic regions at different phases of their annual cycle, migratory species are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
In Bird Migration and Global Change, eminent ecologist George W. Cox brings his extensive experience as a scientist and bird enthusiast to bear in evaluating the capacity of migratory birds to adapt to the challenges of a changing climate.
Cox reviews, synthesizes, and interprets recent and emerging science on the subject, beginning with a discussion of climate change and its effect on habitat, and followed by eleven chapters that examine responses of bird types across all regions of the globe. The final four chapters address the evolutionary capacity of birds, and consider how best to shape conservation strategies to protect migratory species in coming decades.
The rate of climate change is faster now than at any other moment in recent geological history. How best to manage migratory birds to deal with this challenge is a major conservation issue, and Bird Migration and Global Change is a unique and timely contribution to the literature.
Contents
Preface
Part I. Introduction
Chapter 1. Bird Migration and Global Change: The Birds and the Issues
Part II. The Changing Environment
Chapter 2. Global Climate Change
Chapter 3. Global Climate Change and Alteration of Migratory Bird Habitats
Chapter 4. Other Global Change Threats to Migratory Bird Habitat
Part III. Ecological Responses of Migratory Birds to Global Change
Chapter 5. Physical and Biotic Challenges to Migratory Bird Responses
Chapter 6. Northern Hemisphere Land Birds: Short-distance Migrants
Chapter 7. High Latitude Land Birds: Nearctic-Neotropical Migrants
Chapter 8. High Latitude Species of Land Birds: Palearctic Long-distance Migrants
Chapter 9. Land Birds of the Temperate Southern Hemisphere
Chapter 10. Tropical Land Birds
Chapter 11. Raptors
Chapter 12. Shorebirds
Chapter 13. Waterfowl and Other Water Birds
Chapter 14. Oceanic Birds: Northern Atlantic, Baltic, and Mediterranean Regions
Chapter 15. Oceanic Birds: North Pacific
Chapter 16. Oceanic Birds: Southern Hemisphere
Part IV. Evolutionary Responses of Migratory Birds
Chapter 17. Land Birds: Evolutionary Adaptability
Chapter 18. Water Birds: Evolutionary Adaptability
Part V. Prospects
Chapter 19. Capacity for Adjustment by Migratory Birds
Chapter 20. Conservation in an Era of Global Change
Appendix 1. Common and scientific names of species discussed in the text.
Index
George W. Cox is Emeritus Professor of Biology at San Diego State University and a life-long student of birds and their migrations.
