In the hot seat: Mexican Spotted Owl habitat could dry up in the face of climate change

Abstract

Global climate change represents a growing conservation threat, but our understanding of the effects of climate change remains limited for most species. Understanding these effects may be particularly important for species that are already threatened by other factors, because climate change may interact synergistically with those factors. One such species is the threatened Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida). These owls frequently nest and roost in late seral forests featuring high canopy cover, and these forests are threatened by increases in the extent and severity of fires in a warmer and drier climate. They also appear to be relatively intolerant of high temperatures. They are heavily feathered for a temperate zone owl, with feathers extending to the toes, which reduces their ability to dissipate heat through their extremities.

Citation

Ganey, Joseph L. 2020. In the hot seat: Mexican Spotted Owl habitat could dry up in the face of climate change. Association of Field Ornithologists. Online: http://afonet.org/in-the-hot-seat-mexican-spotted-owl-habitat-could-dry-up-in-the-face-of-climate-change/.