Become a nature detective

Sep 16 2008 By Patrice John, Environment Correspondent

FORGET the science and banish the boffins - ordinary Brummies are the best ones to chart the impact of climate change.

Nature expert Neil Wyatt, from the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust, claims eagle-eyed people in the city can keep track of changes in climate by carefully exploring their nearest green space.

Increased rainfall, higher temperatures and volatile weather conditions as well as a shift in the ways animals behave all point to a change in climate.

Mr Wyatt says: "I nsects and plants can be sensitive to temperature differences of less than a degree and plants are especially sensitive.

"An example of this is the grass on your lawn which can grow rapidly when the temperature rises by only 4-5C depending on the season.

"We want to make sure that whatever the changes take place, they do not rob us of the variety of species we currently enjoy in Birmingham and the Black Country.

"We need to monitor this and make sure a wide range of species live in the environment and that wildlife can move from place to place, if their current environment changes.

"Nature reserves, gardens and wild places need to be preserved so wildlife can survive.

"Climate change tends to make things more unpredictable and everything is more variable.

"The only thing we can be certain of is the wildlife is going to be different."

Mr Wyatt gives examples of some of the species that are feeling the impact of climate change in the UK.

BLUEBELLS

BRITISH bluebells are commonplace in woodland but Mr Wyatt says this could be a thing of the past if temperatures continue to change.

The flowers tend to grow when there is more daylight and it becomes warmer. Weeds also grow as it gets warmer, but Mr Wyatt says the cold winter months used to kill weeds, however warmer winters mean weeds are not dying each year, which jeopardises the growth of bluebells.

He says: "It is getting to the point where we are not having the kinds of frosts we used to have in winter and so the weeds are now surviving the winter months and are getting stronger.

"If this trend continues it may be the end for the bluebell."

SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY

SPECIES of speckled wood butterflies and dragonflies traditionally lived in southern regions of the country and are now moving further north.

Mr Wyatt says this is happening due to rising temperatures across the country which means species can now survive in a wider geographic area.

Mr Wyatt says: "Many of these species are spreading north up the country due to the changes in temperature.

The problem is that other species that live in the north are being squeezed out as a result.

"What used to happen is that species shared spaces, especially when it came to living on mountains or hills and they would relocate to the top of mountains.

"Now they are finding that they're being squeezed out of their natural habitats." He gave the example of the Roesel's Bush Cricket which left its normal habitat of the south of England and has been spotted in Moseley Bog, Moseley.

He says: "This used to be on rare occasions but now sightings of it are becoming more abundant."

MOTHS

RECENT increases in rainfall and damp conditions can be detrimental to moths, Mr Wyatt says. "If we have a damp winter without a hard frost moths can go mouldy and begin to die. That may be another result of the changes in climate."

AZOLLA

THE azolla plant is originally from the USA but now grows on the surface of ponds in the UK. Mr Wyatt says rising temperatures and a lack of frost means the plant is no longer dying at winter, which means other plants are not getting a chance to grow.

He says: "This plant grows really thickly and forms a blanket over the top of the pond which used to be ok because it could not survive a hard frost.

"But since winters have become warmer it is no longer dying out and it is suffocating other types of plant life."

HEDGEHOGS AND BATS

THE hibernation patterns of bats and hedgehogs are changing because of temperature rises, Mr Wyatt says.

"They are starting to come out of hibernation earlier due to the change in temperature," he says.

"We are getting more reports about confused hedgehogs who are waking up earlier than they used to and because it is the wrong time of year, they cannot find anything to eat, which can be distressing."

STAG BEETLE

STAG beetles traditionally live in large trees in the south of the country but rising temperatures mean they could be moving further north.

Mr Wyatt says: "One of their traditional strongholds are big old trees in London where they like to live in rotting stumps of trees.

"We think that it is getting warmer in the Midlands and so we really do believe they will soon be living here as well."

Insects in short supply

SOME species of migratory bird tend to fly north in the springtime to feed, but changes in temperature mean the insects they normally feed on are in short supply, Mr Wyatt says.

He predicts this could impact on the numbers of swifts and swallows in the future.

Mr Wyatt says: "Birds fly north in spring time to feed and this is normally dependant on the length of the day.

"Some of these birds hardly land unless they make nests somewhere and so they tend to catch insects in their mouths while flying.

"If there aren't enough insects to feed on, this will put their timing out which could threaten their numbers and their survival.

"Some birds are now changing their migratory times due to the lack of insects available and the fact that changes in temperature mean insects can hatch earlier than usual."