A monogamous bird species in the Seychelles is more likely to divorce after periods of too little or too much rain.
A pair of S birdseychelles warbler on Cousin Island. Image: Yasuyoshi Chiba/iStock
According to new research in the journal Journal of Animal Ecology, Rainfall affects the divorce rate of Seychelles warblera small bird that lives only on five islands in the African nation of Seychelles. This finding shows that changing weather patterns due to climate change can greatly affect the reproductive processes of many animals globally, Newsweek reported on November 26.
In the new study, a team of experts analyzed the mating behavior of Seychelles warbler on Cousin Island for 16 years and compared it to weather patterns over the same time period. This animal is monogamous, meaning that a male and a female form a long-term relationship, often over many mating seasons or even for life.
Monogamy exists in about 90% of bird species, but sometimes the relationship is broken without the partner dying. This situation is called divorce. The research team said that divorce is often associated with poor fertility. About 92% of monogamous bird species have been recorded to experience divorce, and the divorce rate is not the same among species.
During the study period, divorce rates in birds Seychelles warbler annually is 1 – 16%. Notably, the team found a link between their divorce rate and rainfall. More divorces occur in years of unusually low or high rainfall, according to study co-author Frigg Speelman, a PhD student in behavioral ecology at Macquarie University.
This may stem from low rainfall reducing food sources, while high rainfall limits the birds’ ability to maintain body temperature and harms their habitat and nests. Additionally, it is also possible that high and low rainfall increases physiological stress levels in birds, an important factor when choosing a mate. The research team found no direct link between the likelihood of divorce and reproductive success, or the number of children born, meaning there may be other factors influencing divorce rates.
In the context of a rapidly changing climate, the new discovery is very worrying for birds Seychelles warblerwhich already faces many conservation challenges, and so do other bird species globally. “The new research not only advances our understanding of animal behavior in the face of climate change, but also provides valuable information that could be useful for conservation efforts for species vulnerable to impacts.” of climate change,” Speelman said.