Study finds bird 'divorce' rates are tied to rainfall
This study highlights how environmental changes, especially those tied to climate change, can impact social behaviour and reproductive strategies in the wild.
New research from Macquarie University reveals a link between bird 'divorce rates' and rainfall.
The 16-year study focused on Seychelles warblers on Cousin Island, a small island in the Indian Ocean.
It found that changes in rainfall strongly affect the chances of bird pairs splitting up.
Divorce, according to the study's authors, refers to a bonded pair terminating their relationship while both individuals are still living. It's a mating strategy that sometimes relates to poor reproductive success, and the researchers say it has been observed in several bird species.
In bird species, a pair will often form a bond that lasts for several years or a lifetime.
"We analyzed 16 years of data and found a complex, non-linear relationship between rainfall patterns and divorce rates, with divorce being more likely during years of both low and high rainfall," Frigg Speelman a lead author of the paper, said in a statement.
"This relationship was notably influenced by an extreme climatic event -- the 1997 El Niño-induced rainfall spike."
The 1997 event was linked to a spike in bird divorces and throughout the study, birds were consistently less likely to stay together during years with extremely low or high rainfall during the breeding season.
This study highlights how environmental changes can impact social behaviour and reproductive strategies in the wild.
"As climate change intensifies, it is critical to understand how fluctuations in environmental conditions, such as rainfall, affect the stability of socially monogamous species," Speelman said.
"This research not only enhances our understanding of animal behaviour in the face of climate variability but also provides valuable insights that could inform conservation efforts for species vulnerable to the effects of climate change."
Header image: File photo/Canva/Cheryl Santa Maria
