Temperature mediates variation in avian sensitivity to forest cover

Emerging evidence shows that responses to deforestation can differ both across species and among populations of the same species. The reasons underlying these complex patterns are unclear, and this lack of clarity is a barrier to accurate monitoring and prediction of biodiversity change. Using data from 2,262 bird species across 7,326 sites from all forested continents, we show that between-species and within-species variations in responses to forest cover are mediated by temperature. Populations in warmer macroclimates tend to decline in incidence in deforested landscapes because hotter microclimates push them closer to their species' realized upper thermal tolerance limits. By contrast, populations in cooler macroclimates tend to be less affected by or even benefit from deforestation, as microclimatic temperatures are pushed closer to more optimal temperatures. Our findings offer an empirically grounded framework for biodiversity models that move beyond fixed species responses and incorporate interactions between temperature and land-use change.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Published
2026-08-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-026-03160-9
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Species Distribution and Climate Change
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.42

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
article

Temperature mediates variation in avian sensitivity to forest cover

Ben Phalan, Jos Barlow, Luc Barbaro, Urs G. Kormann et al.
1 citations
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Species Distribution and Climate Change
5.42
article

Temperature mediates variation in avian sensitivity to forest cover

Ben Phalan, Jos Barlow, Luc Barbaro, Urs G. Kormann, Hervé Jactel, Luiz dos Anjos, Eric M. Wood, Vânia Proença, Robert M. Ewers, Jack H. Hatfield, Alex L. Pigot, José Carlos Morante‐Filho, Alexandre Uezu, Víctor Arroyo‐Rodríguez, Jesse R. Lasky, Vivienne Groner, Pieter I. Olivier, Charles J. Marsh, Natasha R. Granville, Anna M. Pidgeon, Gergana N. Daskalova, Matthew G. Betts, Julien Terraube, Jessica J. Williams, Alexis Cerezo, Luiz A. M. Mestre, Pedro F. Develey, Cristina Banks‐Leite, Jordan Karubian
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Emerging evidence shows that responses to deforestation can differ both across species and among populations of the same species. The reasons underlying these complex patterns are unclear, and this lack of clarity is a barrier to accurate monitoring and prediction of biodiversity change. Using data from 2,262 bird species across 7,326 sites from all forested continents, we show that between-species and within-species variations in responses to forest cover are mediated by temperature. Populations in warmer macroclimates tend to decline in incidence in deforested landscapes because hotter microclimates push them closer to their species' realized upper thermal tolerance limits. By contrast, populations in cooler macroclimates tend to be less affected by or even benefit from deforestation, as microclimatic temperatures are pushed closer to more optimal temperatures. Our findings offer an empirically grounded framework for biodiversity models that move beyond fixed species responses and incorporate interactions between temperature and land-use change.

Nature Ecology & Evolution
Tulane University (US), Universidade Estadual de Londrina (BR), Save the Children (US), CEA CESTA (FR), Pennsylvania State University (US), Oregon State University (US), University of Wisconsin–Madison (US), University of Lisbon (PT), Université de Bordeaux (FR), National University of Singapore (SG), Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa (PT), California State University Los Angeles (US), Swiss Ornithological Institute (CH), Leverhulme Trust (GB), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (BR), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR), Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (BR), Scientific Services (ZA), French National Agency for Water and Aquatic Environments (FR), Génétique Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage (FR), University College London (GB), Imperial College London (GB), University of York (GB), Universidade Federal do Paraná (BR), Lancaster University (GB), University of Pretoria (ZA), University of Göttingen (DE), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (MX)
National Science Foundation, Imperial College London, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, NOMIS Stiftung, Natural Environment Research Council
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Species Distribution and Climate Change
5.42
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.