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Henry Legett

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Climate change is causing species to shift their phenology, or the timing of recurring life events such as migration and spawning, in variable and complex ways. This can potentially result in mismatches or asynchronies in food and habitat resources that negatively impact individual fitness, population dynamics, and ecosystem function. Numerous studies have evaluated phenological shifts in terrestrial species, particularly birds and plants, yet far fewer evaluations have been conducted for marine animals. This project sought to improve our understanding of shifts in the timing of seasonal migration, spawning or breeding, and biological development (i.e. life stages present, dominant) of coastal fishes and migratory...
Abstract (from American Fisheries Society): The timing of life history events in many plants and animals depends on the seasonal fluctuations of specific environmental conditions. Climate change is altering environmental regimes and disrupting natural cycles and patterns across communities. Anadromous fishes that migrate between marine and freshwater habitats to spawn are particularly sensitive to shifting environmental conditions and thus are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. However, for many anadromous fish species the specific environmental mechanisms driving migration and spawning patterns are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the upstream spawning migrations of river herring Alosa...
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation
This dataset contains carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope values, and C:N ratios, from eggshell tissue samples of Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea), Common terns (S. hirundo), and Roseate terns (S. dougalii) nesting on seven islands located along the coast of Maine in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
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The timing of biological events in plants and animals, such as migration and reproduction, is shifting due to climate change. Anadromous fishes are particularly susceptible to these shifts, as they are subject to strong seasonal cycles when transitioning between marine and freshwater habitats to spawn. We used linear models to determine the extent of phenological shifts in adult alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) as they migrated from ocean to freshwater environments during spring to spawn at 12 sites along the northeast U.S. We also evaluated broad-scale oceanic and atmospheric drivers that trigger their movements from offshore to inland habitats including sea surface temperature (SST), North Atlantic Oscillation index,...
Abstract (from Avian Conservation and Ecology): A variety of seabird species migrate annually from wintering grounds in the Southern Hemisphere to the Gulf of Maine, USA to breed and raise their young. Post-migration, adult seabirds depend on the spatio-temporal match of reliable food resources to replenish energy reserves before breeding. However, the conditions during this critical window of time are becoming increasingly uncertain given the magnitude and pace at which climate change is impacting the Gulf of Maine region. We investigated the pre-breeding foraging ecology of Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea), Common Terns (S. hirundo), and the federally endangered Roseate Tern (S. dougallii) by analyzing stable...
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation
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