This presentation examines how climate change affects the phenology, or timing of lifecycle events, of seabirds. The presenter's thesis is that climate change impacts seabird phenology differently depending on location and species. Several abiotic climate variables, such as sea temperature, air temperature, and sea ice extent, can influence seabird phenology by affecting prey availability, migration timing, breeding timing, and asynchrony with prey. Data shows some Antarctic seabird species are breeding later in response to climate change, while responses vary between short- and long-lived species and locations. More research is needed to fully understand these complex relationships.

1. Changes in seabird phenology and climate
BY CHRIS BENSTON

2. Introduction
● This presentation will examine the environmental factors which affect the
phenology of seabirds.

3. Thesis
● It is my theory that climate change is affecting the phenology of seabirds, I
believe that the impacts of climate change on seabirds varies by location and
species.

4. Background information on seabird
phenology
● It is believed that seabirds did not react to changes in the climate conditions in
a uniform matter.
● For the purposes of this study we will compare among flying and non flying
seabirds.
● It is has been observed that decreased amounts of prey have a greater effect
on non-flying seabirds when compared to flying seabirds.

5. Variables affecting seabird phenology
● Most of the variables affecting seabird phenology can be considered abiotic
variables. Which are non-living parts of the environment. These abiotic
variables include:
● Sea Temperature ( also called sea surface temperature (SST)
● Air Temperature
● Sea Ice Extent( SIE)

6. How do these variables affect seabirds
phenology?
● Leads to decreased amounts of prey.
● Changes in migration and molting
● Delayed breeding and decreased breeding performance
● Leads to asynchrony among the seabirds and their prey.

7. Data
● Variation among the breeding habitats of seabirds was observed, especially
when the location and species changed, this is called phenotype plasticity.
● Each individual species responds differently to changes in the environment.
● Phenotype plasticity is influenced by life span of the seabirds. Variation was
observed among the breeding habitats of long and short lived species of
seabirds.

8. Data Continued
● In the Antarctic, the number of species breeding earlier is almost equal with
those breeding later.( Six species breeding earlier and Seven breeding later.)
● As stated before different seabird species respond differently to changes in
environment.
● Emperor Penguins: will breed earlier if air temperature increases in autumn
and winter, breeding populations of emperor penguins will decrease if the
Southern Oscillation index decreases. Increased amounts of sea ice leads to
decreased in breeding populations of Emperor Penguins.
● Snow Petrels : Breeding increases based on amounts of sea ice and air
temperature. If air temperature decreases during the spring, the breeding
population of Snow Petrels decreases.

9. Conclusion
Based on the data we conclude that the effects of climate and seabird phenology
is not widely understood. This is a very complex subject with many variables
involved. The data shows a slight trend to Antarctic seabirds breeding later.
However, I was unable to come to real significant conclusion on how seabird
phenology is changing in response to the changing climate. However, this data
appears to confirm my theory that impacts of climate change on seabirds varies
by location and species. In order come to any concrete conclusions more
research is required, especially considering the constantly changing climate
conditions

10. Bibliography
● Grémillet, David, and Anne Charmantier. "Shifts in Phenotypic Plasticity
Constrain the Value of Seabirds as Ecological Indicators of Marine
Ecosystems." Ecological Applications 20.6 (2010): 1498-503. October 5 ,2015.
● Jenouvrier, S., H. Weimerskirch, C. Barbraud, Y.-H. Park, and B. Cazelles.
"Evidence of a Shift in the Cyclicity of Antarctic Seabird Dynamics Linked to
Climate." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 272.1566
(2005): 887-95. October 5 ,2015.
● Chambers, Lynda E., Peter Dann, Belinda Cannell, and Eric J. Woehler.
"Climate as a Driver of Phenological Change in Southern Seabirds." Int J
Biometeorol International Journal of Biometeorology 58.4 (2013): 603-12.
October, 5,2015.

11. Bibliography
● Jenouvrier, Stephanie, Christophe Barbraud, and Henri Weimerskirch. "Long-
Term Contrasted Responses To Climate Of Two Antarctic Seabird Species."
Ecology 86.11 (2005): 2889-903. Web. 5 Oct. 2015.
● Croxall, J. P., P. N. Trathan, and E. J. Murphy. "Environmental Change and
Antarctic Seabird Populations." Science 297.5586 (2002): 1510-514. October
5, 2015.
● Barbraud, C., and H. Weimerskirch. "Antarctic Birds Breed Later in Response
to Climate Change." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 103.16
(2006): 6248-251. October, 5 , 2015.
● Mallory, Mark L., and Mark R. Forbes. "Does Sea Ice Constrain The Breeding
Schedules Of High Arctic Northern Fulmars?" The Condor Condor 109.4 (2007):
894. October,5, 2015.