Virtual Posters

Rising temperatures in the Arctic due to climate change may be leading to changes in a variety of ecological processes, such as timing of spring snowmelt, and/or initiation of breeding in birds. Herschel Island-Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park has been experiencing warmer temperatures due to climate change, and so provides an excellent case study of the impacts of changing snow cover extent on Arctic-nesting birds. Our study will investigate differences in initiation of breeding in birds, in relation to timing of spring snowmelt, by comparing nest initiation dates from 1984-1986 (data collected by Yukon Department of Environment) and 2007-2009 (data collected as part of IPY ArcticWOLVES project). There are 7 species of birds included in the study from the passerine, shorebird, and bird of prey groups, giving a full picture of Herschel Island-Qikiqtaruk avifauna. Preliminary analysis shows that laying dates varied year-to-year depending on spring snowmelt, and the median hatch date for all species in 2007-2009 was 3-10 days earlier than in 1984-1986. Using satellite imagery we correlated a proxy spring snowmelt date to early lay dates. The ability of Arctic-nesting birds to respond to varying spring snowmelt times due to climate change will potentially impact their future success.