Lapland Terns: Adapting to Climate Change with Minimal Disruption in their Food Supply

Despite the challenges they face with their food supply during the nesting season, Lapland terns have adapted their lifestyle to tolerate climate change during long migrations. Researchers have found that even with projected increases in carbon dioxide emissions by 2100, the Lapland terns nesting in Sweden, Iceland, and Greenland are not significantly impacted.

The Lapland terns embark on their spring migration from Antarctic waters in March-April, stopping to refuel with small fish and crustaceans along the way. To track their journeys and predict how changing climate conditions may affect their food sources, researchers have used locators attached to the birds.

While the Lapland terns face potential depletion of food in the North Atlantic during the nesting season, they are able to adapt if the loss is not severe. The birds also dine in nutrient-rich areas on their autumn migration towards the south, finding ample food sources in the southwest coast of Africa and the waters of the Indian Ocean.

In Antarctica, where Lapland terns fish for krill crustaceans, researchers have found that ice is not decreasing drastically and there is enough krill for them to feed on. However, headwinds may become stronger in future years which could pose a challenge for these birds’ ability to navigate changes