Nature Communications (Mar 2017)

Winter temperatures limit population growth rate of a migratory songbird

  • Bradley K. Woodworth,
  • Nathaniel T. Wheelwright,
  • Amy E. Newman,
  • Michael Schaub,
  • D. Ryan Norris

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14812
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Population dynamics of migratory animals can be driven by direct, indirect, and potentially opposing effects at wintering and breeding grounds. Here, Woodworthet al. show that migratory sparrow population growth rate is balanced by temperature at wintering grounds and density-dependence at breeding grounds.