What ecological implication arises from resident vs. migratory morphs of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers regarding climate change?
Answer
Warmer winters might cause northern birds to stay put, increasing competition with residents.
The species exhibits different migratory commitments across its range, with northern populations migrating long distances south and southern populations often remaining year-round residents. If global climate shifts result in significantly warmer winters, northern populations might experience reduced pressure to migrate. This could lead to increased intraspecific competition for resources, such as established sap wells and limited nesting sites, in the southern parts of the species' historical range, thereby altering the local selective pressures acting upon both resident and facultatively migratory individuals.
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