Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica

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Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica Tropical Science Center Research Program Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica Panterpe insignis, F. Zeledón, INBio Elizabeth Deliso September 2007 Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica Deliso Elizabeth. Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica / Centro Científico Tropical. – 1 ed.- San José, C.R.: 2008. 42 p.: 22 X 28 cms. 1. Hummingbirds – Cloud Forest. 2. Climate Change. 3. Monteverde – Costa Rica. I Título Título: Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica Autor: Elizabeth Deliso Revisión del texto y formato: Olivier Chassot, Centro Científico Tropical Citar como: Deliso Elizabeth. 2008. Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica. San José, C.R.: Centro Científico Tropical, 42 p. Extractos de esta publicación pueden citarse sin previa autorización con la condición de que se mencione la fuente. E. Deliso 2 Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica Contents Chapter 1: Hummingbird Ecology and Climate Change 5 HUMMINGBIRDS OF MONTEVERDE 5 Background 5 Recent Changes in Avian Populations 6 PLANTS AND HUMMINGBIRDS 6 Co-evolution 6 Hummingbird Effects on Plants 7 Foraging Behavior 9 Nectar Effects on Hummingbird Behavior 10 Life Cycle & Timing 11 CLIMATE & PLANTS 12 Hydrology: Water & Humidity 12 Temperature 13 Clouds & Light 13 Elevation 13 Plant Genetics and Variability 13 Timing 14 Spatial Position 14 CLIMATE & HUMMINGBIRDS 15 POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 15 FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS & CONCLUSIONS 18 REFERENCES 19 Appendix: Hummingbirds of Monteverde 24 Chapter 2: Monitoring and Experiments 25 Field Observations: Hummingbird Population Size 25 Field Observations: Flowering Phenology 26 Field Observations: Hummingbird Visitation 26 Experiments: Nectar Measurements 27 Experiments: Temperature Effects on Nectar Secretion 28 Experiments: Watering Effects on Nectar Production 29 Experiments: Light Effects on Nectar Production 29 Data Presentation 30 Data to Replicate 30 REFERENCES 31 Appendix A: Previously Studied Hummingbird Pollinated Plants of Monteverde 34 Appendix B: Summary of Suggested Observation Techniques & Experiments 35 Chapter 3: Hummingbird Feeders 39 REFERENCES 41 E. Deliso 3 Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica Abstract It has been recently reported that the climate in Monteverde, Tilarán Mountain Range, Costa Rica, is changing rapidly, and that these changes have begun to affect wildlife populations in the region. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the distributions and abundances of hummingbird species are shifting. It is possible that these changes are related to climate. This paper investigates this potential link, examining how climate affects hummingbirds directly and how it affects their resources, namely nectar producing plants. Hummingbirds have complex effects on the plant community through pollination. In turn, nectar and flower production affects hummingbird behavior, population size, and life cycle. Climatic variables including precipitation, temperature, and cloud cover all affect nectar production. Research shows that precipitation also impacts hummingbirds directly. In Monteverde where the climatic trend is one of decreased precipitation, increased temperature, and increased cloud cover, the potential effects on hummingbird populations and the plants that support them are complex. It is possible that there will be a shift in the spatial and temporal distributions of both hummingbirds and plants and a change in the relative abundances of species. A decline in nectar resources resulting in a reduction of hummingbird diversity is possible. Because of the complexity of the potential effects, it is crucial to implement a monitoring program and conduct experiments to deepen our understanding of the relationship between climate change and wildlife biology. Chapter 2 describes a plan for undertaking this research at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve. This includes determining the population sizes and relative abundances of hummingbirds in the region, identifying important flowering plant species, delineating their phenologies, and noting hummingbird visitation rates to these plants. Techniques for measuring nectar are described. Experiments to ascertain the effects of precipitation, temperature, and cloud cover on nectar production are outlined. Baseline data from earlier studies in the region can be compared to new data in order to determine the extent to which climate change has already begun to impact the hummingbirds of Monteverde. Chapter 3 discusses the pros and cons of using hummingbird feeders as a research tool, and recommends that feeders only be used in a limited capacity and in areas of high flower abundance. The ultimate goal of this paper is to facilitate the conservation of biodiversity in an ever-changing Monteverde. Resumen Se ha reportado recientemente que el clima en Monteverde, Cordillera de Tilarán, Costa Rica, está cambiando rápidamente, y que estos cambios han comenzado a afectar a las poblaciones de fauna en la región. Evidencias anecdóticas indican que las distribuciones y la abundancia de especies de colibrí están cambiando. Es posible que estos cambios estén relacionados con el clima. Este estudio investiga un posible vínculo, examinando cómo el clima afecta directamente a las especies de colibrí, y cómo afecta a sus recursos, específicamente el néctar producido por las plantas. Los colibríes producen efectos complejos sobre las comunidades de plantas por medio del mecanismo de polinización. Por otro lado, la producción de néctar y de flores afecta el comportamiento, el tamaño poblacional y el ciclo de vida de los colibríes. Las variables climáticas, incluyendo la precipitación, la temperatura y la cobertura nubosa afectan a la producción del néctar. Las investigaciones demuestran que la precipitación también afecta directamente a los colibríes. En Monteverde, donde la tendencia climática es hacia la disminución de la precipitación, el aumento de la temperatura, y el incremento en la cobertura nubosa, los efectos potenciales sobre poblaciones de colibríes y poblaciones de plantas que los sostienen son complejos. Es posible que se dé un cambio en las distribuciones espaciales y temporales de las especies de colibríes y plantas, así como un cambio en la abundancia relativa de especies. Un decline de los recursos del néctar con la consecuencia de una reducción de la diversidad de colibríes es posible. Debido a la complejidad de los posibles efectos, es crucial ejecutar un programa de monitoreo y realizar experimentos para profundizar nuestra comprensión de la relación entre el cambio de clima y la biología de la fauna silvestre. El Capítulo 2 describe un plan para emprender esta investigación en la Reserva Biológica del Bosque Nuboso de Monteverde. Esto incluye la determinación de los tamaños de la población y de la abundancia relativa de colibríes en la región, la identificación de especies de plantas florecientes importantes, la delineación de su fenología, y la observación de la frecuencia de visitación de los colibríes a estas plantas. Se describen técnicas para medir el néctar. Se delinean experimentos para comprobar los efectos de la precipitación, de la temperatura, y de la cobertura de nubes sobre la producción de néctar. Los datos de la línea de base de estudios anteriores en la región se podrían comparar con los nuevos datos, con el fin de determinar el grado en el cual el cambio de clima ha comenzado a afectar los colibríes de Monteverde. El Capítulo 3 discute las ventajas y desventajas en la utilización de comederos de colibríes como herramienta de la investigación, y recomienda que los comederos solamente sean utilizados en forma limitada y en áreas de alta abundancia de flores. El objetivo último de este informe es facilitar la conservación de la biodiversidad en un Monteverde siempre cambiante. E. Deliso 4 Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica Climate Change and the Hummingbirds of Monteverde Chapter 1 Hummingbird Ecology and Climate Change HUMMINGBIRDS OF MONTEVERDE Background It is well known that the global climate is changing rapidly, and that these changes influence the ecology of many wildlife species. However, the specific nature of these biological changes is often unknown. Many wildlife populations and species throughout the world are threatened by climate change, and some have undergone dramatic declines. In Monteverde several species of amphibians have already declined, and a few have gone extinct. The data show that in the last three decades the regional climatic patterns have tended towards warmer temperatures, and have been characterized by a marked reduction in the rains and mist produced by the trade winds during the dry season (Pounds et al.1999). This cloud forest system, dependent on low lying clouds carrying moisture into the forest, is likely to suffer changes that will adversely affect plants and the species that depend on them in many ways. Several recent biological changes have been statistically correlated with climate change at both local and large scales (Pounds et al. 1999, Pounds et al. 2006). A recent study demonstrates that the growth rates of trees in the forests of Central America and Asia have declined over the last twenty years, most likely as a result of increased temperatures and increased cloud cover (Feely et al.
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