This study is based on 47 years of observations (1961-2007) on two common bird species, the Great Tit (Parus major) and the Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis), and a dominant tree species in their habitat, the English Oak (Quercus robur). The study took place at four research sites in the Czech Republic located in full-grown, multi-aged floodplain forests with no forestry management. An increase in air temperature over the evaluated period clearly influenced the length of phenological phases. The full foliage date of English Oak has advanced by 8.7 days during the past 47 years. Great Tit and Collared Flycatcher populations have reacted to the changing climate in the same way, with first laying date and mean laying date advancing by between 6.0 and 9.0 days. In all cases, the trends are highly significant and consistent over all sites. Despite the ongoing shift in phenological stages toward the beginning of the year, the change does not appear to have led to mistiming in the trophic food chain. Overall, this study shows almost identical rates of change in egg laying dates for both bird species in all the floodplain forests studied, and these trends are coherent with those of English Oak and peak herbivorous caterpillar activity.

Institute of Agrosystems and Bioclimatology Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno Czech Republic

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Nature. 2006 May 4;441(7089):81-3 PubMed

J Anim Ecol. 2009 Jan;78(1):73-83 PubMed

Proc Biol Sci. 2004 Aug 22;271(1549):1657-62 PubMed

Science. 2008 May 9;320(5877):800-3 PubMed

Proc Biol Sci. 2003 Feb 22;270(1513):367-72 PubMed

Evolution. 2005 Jun;59(6):1362-71 PubMed

Oecologia. 2006 Feb;147(1):164-72 PubMed

Nature. 2001 May 17;411(6835):296-8 PubMed

Proc Biol Sci. 2005 Dec 22;272(1581):2561-9 PubMed

Proc Biol Sci. 2003 Feb 7;270(1512):233-40 PubMed

Phenological differences among selected residents and long-distance migrant bird species in central Europe