Researchers who examined data on over 150,000 nesting attempts found that birds in agricultural lands were 46 per cent less likely to successfully raise at least one chick when it got really hot than birds in other areas.
The study's findings were not surprising to Ken Rosenberg, a biologist with the Road to Recovery initiative who formerly worked as a conservation biologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and was lead author on what he calls the "three billion birds study." The idea that forest birds could benefit slightly from warmer temperatures makes sense, he said, since shade from trees provides a buffer from extreme heat that agricultural areas don't have.
Rosenberg and David Bird, a professor emeritus of wildlife biology at McGill University, said the study contributes to the understanding of the negative effects of intensive single crop farming. Bird said the study "sings the praises of the need for preserving our forests," which not only protect birds from hot weather but also help protect ecosystems from global warming by absorbing carbon.
"New solutions that are neutral for farmers but helpful for biodiversity in the long term will create a more resilient biosphere for all of us," they said.Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP's climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.Fresh fruit and vegetable producers warn proposed plastic reductions could spike grocery pricesThe trees arrived with Polynesian voyagers.
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