Natural History Wanderings

 Inside Climate News reported

A new study shows non-migratory birds with long lifespans may be slower to adapt to climate change.

Live fast, die young—or live long and hedge your bets? These are two of the strategies that the world’s non-migratory, non-marine bird species have employed throughout evolutionary history to survive in different environments, while maximizing their ability to breed and avoid extinction.

Research shows birds that live in areas with higher temperature variability within a year typically have shorter lifespans, reproducing early and often. Meanwhile, avian species tend to live longer in environments that are more variable year-to-year because their extended lifespans allow for more wiggle room to skip a breeding season or two if conditions aren’t ideal.

Read more at  Birds That Live Long and Slow May Be More Vulnerable to Climate Change, Research Finds – Inside Climate News