Responses of marsh fishes and breeding wading birds to low temperatures: A possible behavioral link between predator and prey
Frederick PC and Loftus WF. 1993. Responses of marsh fishes and breeding wading birds to low temperatures: A possible behavioral link between predator and prey. Estuaries. 16(2):216-222
In the Everglades of southern Florida, the authors found that cold temperatures and high wind speeds were most closely associated with nest failure of winter nesting wading birds. Quantitative visual surveys in the field showed that even moderate cooling events (15 degrees minimum daily temperature) dramatically altered the observed densities of marsh fishes. The authors confirmed this observation using controlled conditions in the laboratory. They hypothesize that the temperature-induced scarcity of fishes during spring cold snaps is an important cause of disruption of nesting for several species of wading birds in the Everglades.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Frederick, Peter; Loftus, William
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Air Temperature, Animal Studies, Fish, Hatching Success, Impacts, Wading Birds, Wind, Winter