Tropical Birds in Panama Show Tolerance to Temperature Fluctuations

A recent report, studying the tropical birds in Panama, reveals that that they show signs of tolerance to temperature fluctuations amidst the growing concerns of climate change and rising temperatures.

Climate change has been impacting forests and wildlife, including birds. The rapid rise of global temperatures can become devastating for many species that are sensitive to changing temperatures.

In addition, a recent NWN report highlights that climate change can unleash prolonged extreme weather events, including drought, flooding rainfall, heat waves, wildfires, and storms.

Understanding the animals' adaptation to temperature fluctuation is important as birds suffer from other threats, such as deforestation, wildfires, habitat loss, and invasive species.

Tropical Birds and Temperature Fluctuations

As a result, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studied tropical birds and their thermal adaptations. However, the report warns that wild swings in temperatures can make it challenging for tropical birds to survive.

The research findings were published in Ecology.

Climate variability and thermal tolerance can offer new insights into tropical birds' adaptation and vulnerability to climate change. The researcher looked at 89 species of birds in Panama and studied their metabolic rates.

After documenting, the report found that the said birds managed to find ways to cool themselves and return to their habitats.

"We tested the climate variability hypothesis, which predicts that organisms can't handle variation because they haven't seen it over evolutionary time," Professor Emeritus Jeff Brawn, the study's co-author, said, as quoted in a report.

With climate change intensifying hotter temperatures, trees play a crucial role in providing protection and canopy for birds and other animals. Researchers warn that the potential decline of tropical birds will be devastating to ecosystems and forests, causing the spread of insects and invasive species.

"Also, birds are important for the overall integrity of tropical forest systems, holding down insect populations that could damage trees," Brawn said, who is also from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES), and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at Illinois.

Despite the bird's tolerance to changing temperatures, the researchers raised concerns that tropical birds could handle a certain level of tolerance, and the rapid rise of annual temperatures can threaten their ecological importance.

Protection of Trees From Deforestation

In addition, the study emphasizes the need to protect trees and forests, which are crucial for birds and other species. The researchers warn that fragmented deforestation can expose the birds to threats, potentially causing the decline of their populations.

Trees also provide livelihood and protection to communities against storms and challenging weather conditions. Protecting trees and forests is important to mitigate the effects of climate change and greenhouse emissions.

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