Beach nesting birds, such as the least tern (Sternula antillarum), nest on unsheltered sand during the hottest months of the year, where they are exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day. On top of thermal stress, beach nesting birds are frequently subjected to anthropogenic disturbance from beach goers, dogs, and even off-road vehicles, and stress can cause birds to thermoregulate less effectively. When comparing least terns to other beach nesting birds, their small body size makes them likely to encounter dehydration sooner than their larger counterparts due to higher rates of water loss observed in smaller animals. Furthermore, the period of maximum heat stress coincides with the breeding season, meaning that heat likely exerts pressure on the evolution of least terns and their physiology. I hypothesize that the nesting strategy and small body size of least terns leads to frequent and intense heat stress, underscoring the need to create predictive models to assess the outlook of this species under future climate conditions.

All research in the images below was conducted under the appropriate local, state, and federal permits.