Birds in a warmer world
To many scientists, climate change is the likely cause of altered life-cycle patterns among plants and animals. Not all species are showing such effects yet, but the gradual movement of some plants to higher altitudes, and changes in the abundance of particular species are thought to be linked to a rising average global temperature. In the United States, the mean temperature for January, the coldest month, rose by over five degrees F during the past 40 years. Significantly , scientists of the National Audubon Society in the U.S. found that over half of 305 bird species studied in these four decades moved northward. In Europe and Central America, there is proof of birds responding to temperature changes. A striking example is that of the European blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla. One study found this bird wintering in larger numbers in Britain compared with 1960, although the destination for all members of the species should have been Spain and Portugal. Birds are genuine global travellers and any negative impact on flyways, water bodies, resting places, and food access across countries and continents poses a threat. A warming planet is a staggering stressor that can only aggravate habitat loss, disappearing wetlands, and depleted food sources. Scientists are understandably worried that some species face decline because they will fail to adapt to climate change. For example, the arrival of the pied flycatcher in Britain in recent years was found to be mismatched with the emergence of the caterpillars they feed on. This could be a result of temperature changes. Clearly, there is a need for extensive study on the effects of a warmer atmosphere on species everywhere, including biodiversity-rich India. It also underscores the need to strengthen normative conservation actions, such as habitat protection and pollution mitigation, to help species adapt.
The Hindu, 17th March 2009
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