Climate Change and Rare Species in BritainG. W. Elmes, A. Free Global warming is going to change the climate of our world during the next century. It is predicted that within around 50 years summers in the UK will be 2C warmer and winters 4C milder. This increase in temperature would harm many of our rare plant and animal species. It would affect all aspects of land-use: farming, forestry, industry, recreation and wildlife. How can we protect our rare species and ensure their survival? Which are most at risk? This booklet analyzes the effects on our grasslands, verges and the passage and migration of birds, summarizing the research on probable effects on rare species and climate change in Great Britain. |
Common terms and phrases
2°C warmer Adonis blue annual mean temperature anthropogenic Aston Rowant benefit Biological Records Centre biotopes Black hairstreak Britain British RDB species British Trust climate change scenarios combined Comparative Plant Ecology competitors Dartford warbler Data Book species drier conditions ecosystem Environment Research Council Examples of species factors functional types geographical Glanville fritillary grassland habitat loss harmed HMSO increase in rainfall increased temperatures Institute of Terrestrial intensive management km squares Lizard orchid milder Myrmica sabuleti Natural Environment Research NERC Northern humid photo J A Thomas photo JO Mountford photo L K Ward plagioclimax plants and animals predicted rainfall increased Rare Breeding Birds rare species RDB plants RDB1 RDB2 RDB3 Red Data Book response restricted distribution River Piddle ruderal species Scotland South-eastern dry South-western humid southern England Species recorded stress and disturbance stress-tolerant summer droughts Terrestrial Ecology threatened Trust for Ornithology UCPE Unit of Comparative vulnerable warmer climate wet winters wetter woodlands