Phenological decoupling between birds and bugs is one of the consequences of climate change. Birds, such as the Western Sandpiper, eat bugs, such as no-see-ums, to survive. Birds begin their annual cycles of eating and breeding based on the change in sunlight in the spring. Bugs base their cycle based on warming temperatures in the spring. In order for birds to feed off of the bugs, these cycles must overlap. However, because temperatures are rising more quickly, bugs emerge and leave before the birds’ cycle can begin. Therefore, the two cycles do not overlap and the birds find themselves without their normal source of food.Â
Art: MirĂł Merrill
MirĂł Merrill 7.3.16
















