Physiological tolerances of high temperatures in Fynbos birds: implications for climate change

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dc.contributor.advisorRyan, Peter Gen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorCunningham, Susanen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorAlan, Leeen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorSmit, Benen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMilne, Robynen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-11-05T03:40:44Z
dc.date.available2014-11-05T03:40:44Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical referencesen_ZA
dc.description.abstractClimate change is a reality. Numerous biological systems have already responded to changes in climate, with range shifts towards higher latitudes and altitudes being one of the most common responses to climate warming. Bioclimatic envelope modelling provides a useful method for predicting a species, future distribution under a given climate change scenario. However, these models require verification with empirical evidence, including physiological information. Endotherm species (such as birds) have a thermal neutral zone (TNZ) which reflects the range of environmental temperatures over which minimal energy is required for thermoregulation. At temperatures above the TNZ, birds expend extra energy to facilitate evaporative water loss in order to maintain a stable body temperature, while some species increase their body temperature to conserve water. The increased costs of thermoregulation at temperatures above the TNZ can impair fitness, which could have implications for population persistence under climate change. The Fynbos biome of South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot and is home to a rich birdlife, including six endemic bird species. Climate change models predict an increase in temperature for this biome, which may alter the ranges of many of these species, resulting in a loss of species richness and diversity. Recent MaxEnt bioclimatic envelope modelling suggests that some Fynbos bird species may be range-restricted by temperature, while others are more likely limited by other bioclimatic variables (e.g. rainfall). These data require physiological verification.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMilne, R. (2014). <i>Physiological tolerances of high temperatures in Fynbos birds: implications for climate change</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9100en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMilne, Robyn. <i>"Physiological tolerances of high temperatures in Fynbos birds: implications for climate change."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9100en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMilne, R. 2014. Physiological tolerances of high temperatures in Fynbos birds: implications for climate change. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Milne, Robyn AB - Climate change is a reality. Numerous biological systems have already responded to changes in climate, with range shifts towards higher latitudes and altitudes being one of the most common responses to climate warming. Bioclimatic envelope modelling provides a useful method for predicting a species, future distribution under a given climate change scenario. However, these models require verification with empirical evidence, including physiological information. Endotherm species (such as birds) have a thermal neutral zone (TNZ) which reflects the range of environmental temperatures over which minimal energy is required for thermoregulation. At temperatures above the TNZ, birds expend extra energy to facilitate evaporative water loss in order to maintain a stable body temperature, while some species increase their body temperature to conserve water. The increased costs of thermoregulation at temperatures above the TNZ can impair fitness, which could have implications for population persistence under climate change. The Fynbos biome of South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot and is home to a rich birdlife, including six endemic bird species. Climate change models predict an increase in temperature for this biome, which may alter the ranges of many of these species, resulting in a loss of species richness and diversity. Recent MaxEnt bioclimatic envelope modelling suggests that some Fynbos bird species may be range-restricted by temperature, while others are more likely limited by other bioclimatic variables (e.g. rainfall). These data require physiological verification. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Physiological tolerances of high temperatures in Fynbos birds: implications for climate change TI - Physiological tolerances of high temperatures in Fynbos birds: implications for climate change UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9100 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/9100
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMilne R. Physiological tolerances of high temperatures in Fynbos birds: implications for climate change. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9100en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentPercy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.titlePhysiological tolerances of high temperatures in Fynbos birds: implications for climate changeen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhilen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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