A link between increased temperature and avian body condition in a logged tropical forest.
Uwimbabazi M, Muhanguzi G, Eryenyu D, Arua P, Tweheyo M
Climate Adaptation
Logged forests near your nature reserve or community woodland lose their ability to buffer heat extremes — the same shade and moisture that keeps birds alive in a heat wave is what makes a recovering forest worth protecting and restoring.
Researchers tracked the health of small forest birds in Uganda across two time periods and found that birds living in logged forests struggled more when temperatures spiked. The more a forest had been logged, the less it could shield birds from prolonged heat. On a hopeful note, bird health overall was better in the recent survey than in the 1990s, hinting the forest may be slowly bouncing back.
Key Findings
Birds in logged forest sites had lower body condition scores than those in unlogged sites, and body condition declined as maximum temperatures increased.
Birds responded to temperature and rainfall changes within just one week, and longer heat waves caused progressively worse outcomes in heavily logged areas — indicating reduced thermal buffering from canopy loss.
Despite ongoing pressures, bird body condition scores were higher in 2017–2021 compared to 1996–2000, suggesting possible forest recovery over the two decades.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Birds in logged tropical forests in Uganda showed worse body condition as temperatures rose, with heavily logged areas providing less protection during heat waves. Surprisingly, overall bird condition improved between the 1990s and 2017-2021, suggesting some forest recovery.
Abstract Preview
The combined effects of anthropogenic disturbances, such as logging and climate change, remain poorly understood; yet, they are the main threats to tropical biodiversity. Most tropical African coun...
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