RMBL Research Plan: 2010 Nancy Buschhaus The effect of high altitude and climate change on the phenology, parental behavior and population dynamics of three secondary-cavity nesting bird species.

Research Project Number:	2010-577
Research Project Title:	The effect of high altitude and climate change on the phenology, parental behavior and population dynamics of three secondary-cavity nesting bird species.
Investigator:	Nancy Buschhaus
Abstract::	Global climate change affects a multitude of environments in various ways. However, global climate change may have its largest impacts in environments that are greatly affected by even minor changes in average temperatures, precipitation and snow cover. For example, the population dynamics of the majority of plants and animals that live in high altitude environments are greatly affected by the number of snow-free days during their reproductive and growing stages as well as the amount of snow during the winter and when the snow cover melts in the spring. Even changes as little as a few additional days added on to the growing season by an earlier snow melt can have a big impact on the size and emergence of the insect populations. Since those insects are fed to the offspring of many nesting birds, that, in turn, can affect the beginning and length of the reproductive season in these bird populations. Since 1994, I have been examining the length of the reproductive period, the parental behavior, and the population dynamics of Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) and Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) populations found at high altitude in the environment at and near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. These three species live in cavities that are either provided to them by humans (i.e. bird nest boxes) or are naturally formed by cavity excavating species (i.e. woodpeckers). While not yet significantly different from those early years, the date that the young leave the nest in Mountain Bluebirds and House Wrens has gradually become earlier and earlier in the summer, possibly reflecting the earlier snow melt and earlier emergence of their insect prey. In contrast, Tree Swallows have been relatively constant in the date the young leave the nest but, based on casual observation, have possibly decreased in population size. I plan to continue to study the nesting, behavior and population dynamics of these three species and relate those dynamics to temperature and precipitation trends in the high altitude environment at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory.
Affiliated Institution(s)::	University of Tennessee at Martin
Collaborator(s)::	No
Year submitted::	2010
Study Period::	5 years beginning in 2010
Status/Notes::	login as a Research Committee member Current Status = Under review.
Approval/Conditions of Approval::	The "Approval/Conditions of Approval" memo is not available.
Funding Duration(s)::	Can apply annually
Funding Source(s)::	Internal grants from UTMartin to pay minor amounts for small equipment
Funding Amount(s)::	$1000
Principal organism(s)::	Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides), House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Classification::	Level = organismal Theme = Research Subject = Phenology
Info on any prior research sites::
Prior conditions of research::	(((((((Yes. I do not remember any conditions of prior research approval that have not been satisfied.
Mapped locations of Nancy Buschhaus :	Click here to search in the research site database
Project Description:	Project description details for this Research Plan are withheld from public view by Lab policy. Please contact director at rmbl.org for more information on this policy.
Why RMBL is appropriate for this research::
References used for this research plan::
Publications of Nancy Buschhaus ::	Click here
Metadata of Nancy Buschhaus :	Click here
CV (if any): :	CVs are withheld from public view by Lab policy.
Extra Information / Notes::	There are is no extra information for this plan supplied by the author.

Details of this Research Plan