HE climate change The world and its inhabitants are changing. Gradually, some animals are invading new, colder areas to compensate for the gradual increase in temperatures on the planet.. In the case of european birdsA scientific study has just shown that traveled an average of 100 kilometers north in the last 30 years. Scientists have narrowed it down to climate change, of course.
To quantify the impact, the researchers used a unique long-term dataset on bird numbers breeding in Europe. ecological barriers in changes in bird communities caused by the climate crisis.
First they confirmed Ecological barriers have a significant impact on the distance and direction of changes in bird community composition. continental scale, shores And height those with the most influence.
“The results highlight the importance of combining ecological barriers and projections of community change to identify forces hindering community cohesion under global change,” write the authors of the study, newly published in the journal “Pnas.”
“Two-thirds of the birds in Europe have moved to colder regions, particularly north and east, on average 100 km in the last 30 years.. They are trying to find the best conditions for themselves. global warming. But these journeys encounter obstacles such as mountain ranges and oceans,” the authors explain.
endangered species
The study shows that almost all European bird species have seen these movements. natural obstacles In a big size. ANDThese obstacles affect both the distance traveled and the direction the birds choose..
However, ecological barriers are rarely considered in climate change studies, which can make it difficult to predict changes in biodiversity.
“We verified Bird communities living far from the coast moved further away from those living near the coast.“, explains Laura Bosco, a researcher at the University of Helsinki and author of the study. Therefore, coasts act as “real barriers to the movement of birds”declares.
“We already knew that birds don’t move fast enough to follow the weather conditions that suit them. Now we have part of the explanation for this phenomenon,” adds Bosco.
“These results are important for better understanding the possible consequences of climate change on the European avifauna,” he says.
“Bird communities faced with obstacles are at risk of having to cope with unsuitable weather conditions before they can move to more suitable areas. some of these species may be in danger of extinction“, they warn.
“Coastal bird life often consists of rare and unique species,” Bosco notes. In Switzerland, mountain birds (including species such as the Snow Sparrow)Montifringilla nivalis), partridge (lagopus mutates) and alpine fig (Anthus spinolettawell-adapted to alpine habitats) may encounter similar problems due to altitude gradients.
“These birds prefer to stay in familiar mountain conditions and may find themselves hindered, for example, by having to brave low altitudes to cross valleys,” says the scientist.
‘Climate shelters’
The results of this study are consistent with another study published a little over a year ago in “Biology of Global Change” that analyzed where they might be. surviving in the face of climate change Climate sensitive bird species dependent on high altitude habitats in the European Alps.
The researchers then focused their analysis on four species, the three species mentioned above, and the alpine accent (Prunella collaris). All distribution models estimated based on current and future conditions, three of the four species will seek higher altitudes. They lose 17% to 59% of their current distribution range. The exception is the straw.
The study revealed that approximately 15,000 square kilometers of the area studied (equivalent to the surface of the state of Toledo) contains areas suitable for at least three species under current conditions and expected to continue to do so in the future. 44% of these regions are currently protected areas.
“Knowing how the distribution of high-altitude birds will change and which areas will offer favorable conditions in a warmer future is key to protecting such sensitive species and the unique environments in which they live.“Then pointed out Mattia Brambilla, the main author of this study, from the University of Milan in Italy.
These fields represent ‘climate shelters’ for alpine biodiversity and should be protected from anthropogenic disturbance and habitat degradation,” he said.
“For conservation-focused research, these climatic refuges are key places to investigate small-scale drivers of species presence and habitat use, or to start studies on mountain bird demographics,” the Italian study said.
Tutorial from the University of Helsinki: https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2213330120
Education from the University of Milan: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.16187
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Contact details of the environment department: [email protected]