Date of Award
2-9-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Virginie Rolland
Committee Members
Than Boves; Travis Marsico
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2022 G35
Abstract
Over the past half century, birds have changed, including in their morphology. Biogeographic rules including Bergmann’s and Allen’s rules have been used to try to elucidate morphological changes; however, there has been dispute over the rules’ applicability. Thus, I aimed to identify 1) morphometric trends over time of 15 North American bird species, including eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis); 2) if these morphometric trends follow Bergmann’s rule; and 3) if the observed morphometric trends are associated with life history and other traits, as well as climatic variables (e.g., average, maximum and minimum temperatures, and total precipitation). Using short- and long-term morphological data, I determined that several species are responding to climate change in accordance with Bergmann’s rule; and that morphological changes are associated with lifespan, order, and body size; and associated with average temperature.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Galloway, Peridot Derrin, "Does Bergmann’s Rule Apply to North American Birds in The Context of Climate Change?" (2023). Student Theses and Dissertations. 209.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/209
