Differential Flight Responses of Sympatric Raptor Species to Weather Conditions and Extreme Temperature Events

ABSTRACT Climate change has increased the frequency, severity, and duration of extreme weather events, for example, heatwaves, underscoring the need to comprehend their impact on animal behavior. Flying organisms, particularly birds, are greatly affected by changes in atmospheric conditions and may...

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Main Authors: Lara Naves‐Alegre, Hernán García‐Mayoral, Jon Morant, Juan Manuel Pérez‐García, Andreia Dias, Elvira Cano‐Montes, Ángel Sánchez, Víctor García‐Matarranz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70658
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author Lara Naves‐Alegre
Hernán García‐Mayoral
Jon Morant
Juan Manuel Pérez‐García
Andreia Dias
Elvira Cano‐Montes
Ángel Sánchez
Víctor García‐Matarranz
author_facet Lara Naves‐Alegre
Hernán García‐Mayoral
Jon Morant
Juan Manuel Pérez‐García
Andreia Dias
Elvira Cano‐Montes
Ángel Sánchez
Víctor García‐Matarranz
author_sort Lara Naves‐Alegre
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Climate change has increased the frequency, severity, and duration of extreme weather events, for example, heatwaves, underscoring the need to comprehend their impact on animal behavior. Flying organisms, particularly birds, are greatly affected by changes in atmospheric conditions and may modify their speed or direction, adjust their flight strategy, and even make decisions on whether to fly based on weather. In this study, we assessed flight‐related parameters in three GPS‐tagged raptor species: the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata), and the Spanish eagle (Aquila adalberti), in relation to weather conditions and heatwaves. The results showed that the three species varied in their flight patterns despite similar environmental conditions, including temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. Each species exhibited unique strategies and responsiveness to heatwaves, reflecting diverse adaptive capacities and behavioral flexibilities. Specifically, Bonelli's eagle displayed comparatively minor adjustments in its flight strategy during periods of extreme temperature, contrasting with the pronounced behavioral variations observed in the golden eagle. These findings suggest that extreme and unpredictable weather events, particularly heatwaves, may impact raptor species differently. An understanding of how extreme weather events may impact individual fitness, through modifications to energy expenditure and foraging practices, is essential for predicting their potential impact on long‐term population dynamics.
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spelling doaj-art-26a8f83b9a1f470eb809b5fc00308ec82025-08-20T03:26:04ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-02-01152n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70658Differential Flight Responses of Sympatric Raptor Species to Weather Conditions and Extreme Temperature EventsLara Naves‐Alegre0Hernán García‐Mayoral1Jon Morant2Juan Manuel Pérez‐García3Andreia Dias4Elvira Cano‐Montes5Ángel Sánchez6Víctor García‐Matarranz7University Institute for Agro‐Food and Agro‐Environmental Research and Innovation (CIAGRO‐UMH) Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche Elche SpainIndependent ResearcherDepartment of Ecology University of Alicante Alicante SpainUniversity Institute for Agro‐Food and Agro‐Environmental Research and Innovation (CIAGRO‐UMH) Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche Elche SpainConservation Action Area, Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge Madrid SpainSociedad de Gestión Pública de Extremadura Badajoz SpainServicio de Conservación de La Naturaleza y Áreas Protegidas Junta de Extremadura Mérida SpainConservation Action Area, Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge Madrid SpainABSTRACT Climate change has increased the frequency, severity, and duration of extreme weather events, for example, heatwaves, underscoring the need to comprehend their impact on animal behavior. Flying organisms, particularly birds, are greatly affected by changes in atmospheric conditions and may modify their speed or direction, adjust their flight strategy, and even make decisions on whether to fly based on weather. In this study, we assessed flight‐related parameters in three GPS‐tagged raptor species: the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the Bonelli's eagle (Aquila fasciata), and the Spanish eagle (Aquila adalberti), in relation to weather conditions and heatwaves. The results showed that the three species varied in their flight patterns despite similar environmental conditions, including temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. Each species exhibited unique strategies and responsiveness to heatwaves, reflecting diverse adaptive capacities and behavioral flexibilities. Specifically, Bonelli's eagle displayed comparatively minor adjustments in its flight strategy during periods of extreme temperature, contrasting with the pronounced behavioral variations observed in the golden eagle. These findings suggest that extreme and unpredictable weather events, particularly heatwaves, may impact raptor species differently. An understanding of how extreme weather events may impact individual fitness, through modifications to energy expenditure and foraging practices, is essential for predicting their potential impact on long‐term population dynamics.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70658behavioral flexibilityclimate changeflight behaviorheatwavesmeteorologyraptors
spellingShingle Lara Naves‐Alegre
Hernán García‐Mayoral
Jon Morant
Juan Manuel Pérez‐García
Andreia Dias
Elvira Cano‐Montes
Ángel Sánchez
Víctor García‐Matarranz
Differential Flight Responses of Sympatric Raptor Species to Weather Conditions and Extreme Temperature Events
Ecology and Evolution
behavioral flexibility
climate change
flight behavior
heatwaves
meteorology
raptors
title Differential Flight Responses of Sympatric Raptor Species to Weather Conditions and Extreme Temperature Events
title_full Differential Flight Responses of Sympatric Raptor Species to Weather Conditions and Extreme Temperature Events
title_fullStr Differential Flight Responses of Sympatric Raptor Species to Weather Conditions and Extreme Temperature Events
title_full_unstemmed Differential Flight Responses of Sympatric Raptor Species to Weather Conditions and Extreme Temperature Events
title_short Differential Flight Responses of Sympatric Raptor Species to Weather Conditions and Extreme Temperature Events
title_sort differential flight responses of sympatric raptor species to weather conditions and extreme temperature events
topic behavioral flexibility
climate change
flight behavior
heatwaves
meteorology
raptors
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70658
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