The range margins of northern birds shift polewards



: Brommer JE

Publisher: FINNISH ZOOLOGICAL BOTANICAL PUBLISHING BOARD

: 2004

Annales Zoologici Fennici

ANNALES ZOOLOGICI FENNICI

: ANN ZOOL FENN

: 41

: 2

: 391

: 397

: 7

: 0003-455X


The changes in range margins of birds breeding in Finland was analysed from published atlas data for a 12-year period (1974-1979 to 1986-1989). The change in range margin was statistically corrected for changes in species' distribution using linear regression. For species predominantly occurring in southern Finland (n = 116), the expected range margin shift, if their distribution would not have changed, was 18.8 km northwards. Northerly species (n = 34) showed no such significant range margin shift. A similar result was found earlier for UK birds. Recent range margin shifts in birds therefore seem to be a general phenomenon, which may be related to climate change.



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