Declines in invertebrates and birds – could they be linked by climate change?

ABSTRACT

Capsule

Through case studies that link changes in invertebrate populations to changes in bird populations, we suggest how climate change may increasingly impact bird populations through variation in their invertebrate prey.

Aims

To assess whether invertebrate and bird population declines could be linked and suggest potentially emerging climate change impacts on wildlife.

Methods

We draw on field experience and case studies to illustrate how potential climate change impacts on invertebrates may cascade to affect bird populations and identify some key research gaps for urgent consideration.

Results

We highlight four invertebrate groups which may be sensitive to the impacts of climate change and that have the potential to impact bird populations that feed on them: soil invertebrates, foliar invertebrates, aerial insects, and aquatic invertebrates.

Conclusion

Our ability to understand these impacts is hampered by a lack of extensive long-term monitoring data for many invertebrates, and invertebrate data collected at scales that can be related to bird populations. We call for collaboration between entomologists and ornithologists, both non-vocational and professional, to support new empirical research and long-term monitoring initiatives to better link changes in insect populations and birds to inform future decision-making. This will be particularly important to understand likely future increasing climate change pressures on birds.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Andy Musgrove for commenting on this manuscript prior to submission, and for helpful comments from James Bell, an anonymous reviewer and Associate Editor following submission. JPH’s contribution to the manuscript has been supported by individual donations to the British Trust for Ornithology.