Jennifer R. Olson and Thomas C. Grubb
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780198569992
- eISBN:
- 9780191717802
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198569992.003.0019
- Subject:
- Biology, Ornithology
Many North American parids have ranges that expose them to temperate winter seasons. Chickadees and titmice possess several physiological and behavioural adaptations that allow them to manage the ...
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Many North American parids have ranges that expose them to temperate winter seasons. Chickadees and titmice possess several physiological and behavioural adaptations that allow them to manage the reduced food supply and high thermoregulatory demands of this environment. Yet, increased habitat fragmentation posed by agricultural and urban expansion also presents a further stress to these populations. This chapter reviews research on physiological adaptations to reduced temperatures, and then addresses how microclimate change induced by habitat fragmentation can affect the response potential of over-wintering birds. These evolved responses have been investigated in chickadees and tufted titmice in isolated woodlots in agricultural landscapes, where fragmentation and patch size greatly alter the microclimate to which species are exposed.Less
Many North American parids have ranges that expose them to temperate winter seasons. Chickadees and titmice possess several physiological and behavioural adaptations that allow them to manage the reduced food supply and high thermoregulatory demands of this environment. Yet, increased habitat fragmentation posed by agricultural and urban expansion also presents a further stress to these populations. This chapter reviews research on physiological adaptations to reduced temperatures, and then addresses how microclimate change induced by habitat fragmentation can affect the response potential of over-wintering birds. These evolved responses have been investigated in chickadees and tufted titmice in isolated woodlots in agricultural landscapes, where fragmentation and patch size greatly alter the microclimate to which species are exposed.
