Resistance and resilience of terrestrial birds in drying climates: do floodplains provide drought refugia?

摘要: Aim Climate refugia will become increasingly important for biota as climate change causes an increased frequency and intensity of extreme events, such drought. Floodplains are potential drought because they have cooler more mesic microclimates than adjacent areas, greater water availability through shallower groundwater flooding. We explored the role floodplains by estimating resistance resilience terrestrial birds over a 13-year (the ‘Big Dry’) 4 years following break in floodplain non-floodplain zones. Location Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. Methods We used Atlas Australian Birds survey data from 39,000 surveys at 28,000 sites to estimate trends reporting rates zones 144 bird species during extended (1998–2009) post-drought period (2010–13). Results There was zones: fewer declined (19%) (29%) Big Dry, had elevated (13% vs. 8%). More showed recovery (40.3%) (15.3%) period, which expected declines Dry were common zones. There some evidence limitations avifauna, with only 17.9% that subsequently recovering. Conclusions Floodplains appear enhance many species, likely be particularly areas arid climate. However, their is less clear. Floodplain ecosystems require long-term management relieve pressures restore ecological condition so maintained or enhanced.