DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The Impacts of Global Climate Change on the Annual Cycle of Long-Distance Migratory Birds

全球气候变化导致北方大部分地区的春天提前到来，特别是在最北的纬度地区。 这对候鸟等生物来说是一个严重的问题，它们在这些偏北的纬度繁殖，但一年中的大部分时间都在其他地区度过。 本研究探讨了两个不同的种群的长途候鸟，哈德逊Godwit（Limosa haemastica），改变他们的迁移和繁殖季节的时间，以应对迅速变化的气候。 通过跟踪每只鸟来量化迁徙，并在两个不同的繁殖地点测量鸟巢成功率和雏鸟存活率。更好地了解全球气候变化如何影响候鸟，对于科学家和土地管理者在未来气候变化情景下规划保护这些物种的能力至关重要。 这项研究的结果将通过在科学期刊上发表和通过不同的社交媒体来促进这种理解，以教育生活在整个哈德森Godwits范围内的公民。 调查人员计划发行一部英语和西班牙语的纪录片，并通过视频聊天和在线讨论指导初中和高中学生。本科生和公民科学家将参与实地数据的收集和分析。

Global climate change is causing spring to arrive earlier across much of the Northern Hemisphere, and particularly at the most northerly latitudes. This presents a significant problem to organisms such as migratory birds that breed at these northerly latitudes but spend much of the rest of the year in other regions. This study examines how two different populations of a long-distance migratory bird, the Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica), change the timing of their migrations and breeding seasons in response to a rapidly changing climate. Migration will be quantified by tracking individual birds, and nest success and chick survival will be measured at two separate breeding sites.Gaining a better understanding of how global climate change is affecting migratory birds is pivotal to the ability of scientists and land managers to plan for the conservation of these species under future climate change scenarios. The results of this research will facilitate this understanding through publication in scientific journals and through diverse social media to educate citizens living throughout the entire range of Hudsonian Godwits. The investigators plan to distribute a documentary film in both English and Spanish, and to mentor middle- and high-school students through video chats and on-line discussions. Undergraduate students and citizen scientists will be included in collection and analysis of field data.