How will migrant species be affected by climate change?

Swallow. Credit John Harding/BTO.

Working with experts from around the world, British scientists are at the forefront of an ambitious project to monitor the negative impacts of climate change on migratory animals. The results of this work have just been published in the scientific journal, Endangered Species Research.

December 2008. Scientists from the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), sponsored by Defra, have led the way in creating a "FTSE indicator" of climate change for migratory species. Climate change is one of the major factors likely to affect the Earth's ecosystem in the coming years and centuries. Migratory species, by traveling large distances between sites, are particularly likely to be affected by climate change at some point in their lives. As the planet's weather systems change it will become increasingly important to monitor the impact on its wildlife.

Given the great range of species affected by climate change, it is impossible to monitor all species and all impacts of climate change. However, by just looking at a few key species, habitats and ecosystems, we could monitor many of the key processes through which climate change may affect wildlife. The BTO has been working with experts representing other groups of migratory wildlife from around the world to identify a suite of indicators which can be used to provide information on the impact that climate change will have on the global conservation status of migratory species.

From a suite of 17 indicators, four indicators for birds were proposed:

• Number of Trans-Saharan migrants on their breeding grounds.
• Number of breeding pairs of Antarctic penguins.
• Reproductive output of fish-eating seabirds in the North-East Atlantic, Arctic and North Seas.
• Reproductive output of Arctic shorebirds.
  

Dr Stuart Newson, Population Biologist at the BTO and lead author of the scientific paper, ‘Indicators of Climate Change Impacts on Migratory species', commented, "In developing these indicators, it is essential to consider how the outputs will relate to conservation objectives, and how a system of alerts and triggers for action could be implemented to help those species worst affected."

Minister for Wildlife, Huw Irranca-Davies, said, "Climate change is already affecting wildlife globally, and while some species will spread, others will become increasingly threatened. Our work with the BTO to understand the effects of climate change is vital to show why we need to work together to give our wildlife a fighting chance, and our recent agreement to protect migratory birds is just one example of our joined up approach."