The Effect of Climate Change on Birds

by David Leech

6. Influence of climatic change on phenology

The term 'phenology' is used to describe the seasonal timing of biological events. Changes in climatic conditions have the potential to alter the timing of such events directly, by influencing energy and time budgets of individuals. Ambient temperature may control the rate at which organisms are able to grow and the amount of energy used to regulate body temperature for warm-blooded species. Climatic changes may also influence phenology indirectly if organisms use environmental cues, such as temperature or rainfall, to regulate the timing of specific events within their annual breeding cycles.

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