- Climate change is playing havoc with the timing of the
seasons and could drastically alter the landscape, according to one of
the most comprehensive studies of its kind.
-
- Frogs have begun spawning in Britain as early as October,
oaks are coming into leaf three weeks earlier than they were 50 years ago
and there were an unprecedented 4,000 sightings of bumblebees by the end
of January this year.
-
- Scientists, who also noted that people were mowing their
lawns earlier, have concluded that spring now arrives ahead of schedule.
-
- The findings were submitted to scientists at the UK Phenology
Network by hundreds of paid observers across the country and have been
combined with environmental data over three centuries. The study is bound
to intensify calls for tighter controls on environmental pollution linked
to climate change.
-
- The report, published yesterday in the BBC Wildlife Magazine,
provides startling evidence of how nature is reacting to rising temperatures
and changing rainfall patterns. Authors of the report have calculated that
spring starts around six days earlier for every 1C temperature rise but
not all species are affected in the same way.
-
- For example for every 1C temperature rise, oak trees
come into leaf 10 days earlier compared to four days earlier for the ash,
its main competitor for space.
-
- In an example of the ecological balance being upset,
these changes also affect caterpillars, which are developing earlier to
meet the need to feed on the trees' young leaves. This may also have an
effect on the migratory patterns of birds that feed on the insects, which
can more readily adapt to climate change.
-
- "The findings suggest that there won't be a smooth
progression towards a warmer climate, with all species advancing in unison,
but rather that different responses may disrupt the complex linkages in
nature," said Tim Sparks, one of the report's authors.
-
- The authors predict more drastic changes if, as expected,
global temperatures rise between 2C and 6C.
-
- It is now warmer than at any point in the past 1,000
years and nine of the 10 warmest years have occurred in the past decade.
-
- England's beech woods may disappear along with animals
such as Scotland's capercaillie and snow bunting - both birds which prefer
a cold environment.
-
- The landscape may also change because of shifting rainfall
patterns, more extreme weather and rising sea levels, the report predicts.
Arable farming may migrate to the west as parts of East Anglia become too
dry to cultivate.
-
- "Climate change will affect our wildlife but nature
is difficult to predict" said Mr Sparks. "What is clear is that
we need to act now if we are able to help the natural world to survive
and adapt to future change."
-
- Under a warming climate, Britain may be invaded by new
animals and plants. Among birds, the candidates include the black kite,
cattle egret and hoopoe. There may also be new moths and butterflies, including
the mazarine blue butterfly and the black-veined white butterfly.
-
- More evidence of change
-
- CRICKETS
-
- The long-winged conehead, formerly restricted to the
- south coast, has moved 60 miles north.
-
- RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY
-
- A migrating species that is now spending the winter in
- the UK.
-
- FROGS
-
- Spawning has occurred before Christmas for several
- years in milder parts of Cornwall. Researchers have
- discovered dozens of cases in October and as far north
- as Northern Ireland.
-
- BUMBLEBEES
-
- Activity in winter is aided by exotic flowers but
- scientists have logged 4,000 reports of bees in
- January in what is called a "significant change"
in
- behaviour.
-
- DAFFODILS
-
- Flowering is no longer restricted to spring with it
- being spotted on Christmas Day. There are similar
- changes with the white dead-nettle.
-
- OAK TREES
-
- In the past 50 years the oak has come into leaf three
- weeks earlier. In southern England leaves now emerge
- in late March.
-
- GRASS
-
- Now grows all year with 7 per cent of respondents to
- the survey in Scotland cutting their grass in winter.
-
- ©2005 Independent News & Media (UK) Ltd.
-
- http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/story.jsp?story=629530
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