Shifting Latitudes - North Sea Fishes

Globally, spatial distributions of fish stock are increasingly shifting in latitude as well as depth. Although arguably intensive fishing pressures plays a role, however, patterns observed recently are most likely attributed to recent climate change and increases in seawater temperature. It is widely known that changes in sea temperatures may influence fishes through their growth, reproduction and their food web from changes at other trophic levels. Species having limited dispersal capability of responding to the changes or have troubles finding a suitable habitat may potentially face widespread extinction. Research has shown species that recently responded to the changing conditions tend to have faster life cycles and smaller body size than non-shifting species – meaning that some species are currently losing or might lose out in the future!

                                                               Shoal of Fish Migrating!

Allison Perry and her colleagues noted that temperatures of the North Sea water have increased by an average of 0.6 degrees between 1962-2001. Their research showed that Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), scaldfish (Arnoglossus laterna), snakeblenny (Lumpenus lampretaeformis) and common sole (Solea solea) have all shifted northwards with a distance ranging from 48 – 403 kilometers (WOW!). 403 kilometers seems as though a huge but unsurprising number, as the rates of migration are likely much higher than other wildlife (such as butterflies) since they are less likely to face barriers and constraints during the process.

   Snakeblenny 

Similarly, Engelhard and his team examined historical and contemporary fisheries data and revealed that current distribution of North Sea cod – located mainly in northeastern parts of the North Sea is entirely opposite to the distribution in 20^th century, where they were mainly found in the west, just off the coast of England and Scotland. They suggested that the northward shift is likely due to warming, however, intensive fishing pressures have likely caused the eastward shift shown.  

     North Sea Cod

Future estimation by UK Climate Impacts Programme suggested that North Sea water temperatures are predicted to increase by 1 to 2.5 degrees by 2050. And it has been suggested that blue whiting, redfishes and many more species may completely retract from the North Sea by 2050!  Sad :/

Hiya! Welcome to my Blog!

Hiya! Welcome to my Blog!

As we all know climate change is a heavily written (and debated on) topic, especially its impact on the visible changes towards our physical environment like extreme heatwaves and changes in precipitation regimes. For example, more recently I was in Hong Kong during summer and it was all over the news that Hong Kong experienced the hottest June hitting an average of 29.7 degrees Celsius since records began more than a century ago in 1885 (Lai, 2015).

With the increasing temperatures noted of 0.6 degrees increase over the past 100 years (Walther et al. 2002). Have you ever thought more broadly about the impacts of changes in climate on biodiversity, a less debated topic on climate change, and how they are either adapting or losing out to climate change (apart from polar bears in Arctic)? Eventhough we are only at an early stage of projected trends in climate change, there are now visible evidence of ecological impacts and responses from ecosystems worldwide. 


                                                                                  

                                                    Biodiversity surrounding us!

So what will I focus my blog on the next few months? I hope to explore how a range of biodiversity has recently responded and adapted to the recent climate change. Yes, you might be thinking…'BIODIVERSITY' is a broad word. However, since I would like to blog on recent news articles, blogs or academic literature that I find most interesting about throughout the upcoming months, I decided not to narrow it down to a particular species or habitat. I hope to bring DIVERSITY to our conversation (yes, our conversation - between me and you the readers), hence the focus on my upcoming posts can range from the smallest microscopic animals and community levels to large ecosystem like the Great Barrier Reefs. Eventhough I will be exploring how climate change has caused impacts, changes and adaptation in biodiversity, however, it is also important to note that human impacts (such as urbanization, agricultural activities) may also inevitably play a role in exacerbating these changes, and the response mechanism that a particular species or habitat might have taken.

Instead of rambling on without interesting examples, here is a short overview of an article that popped up on my ‘facebook trendings’ timeline last night. Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) reserve just recorded the earliest arrival of first Bewick’s swans on Sunday (25 days earlier than 2014) that migrate 2500 miles from Russia to escape from the approaching arrival of cold weather since they began recording in 1963 (Finnagan, 2015). Experts suggest that the premature arrival of winter temperatures hitting Eastern Europe and parts of Western Russia with temperatures currently 5-10 degrees Celsius lower than average has encouraged Bewick’s swans to migrate westwards earlier than anticipated (Payne, 2015).

                                                          
                                              

                                                 Early migration of Bewick’s Swan to Britain!

                                                 

  

                                                        Belwick's swan's Migration Route!

Last but not least, you are probably wondering why I decided to blog on this topic. Last year one of the topics I really enjoyed in the Ecological Patterns module was the lecture on Response of European Wildlife and Vegetation to Climate Change (at least I think that's what its called). And yes, I spend a whole lot of time revising for that particular 2- hour lecture hoping that it would have popped up on the exam cause I really enjoyed it (and also dont know why I was pretty convinced it was going to come up)! But turns out, I’m not a psychic and it didn’t. So here I am, hoping to channel some of the knowledge (or bigger pictures) I’ve learnt from the readings I vaguely remember, as well as learning more on the topic!

I hope it will turn out to be something enjoyable (and educational!) for everyone to read. Feel free to comment on any of my posts or any critiques/arguments I might not have covered as I’ve got so much more to learn, and also I don't want to feel lonely being the only one that’s on one-end of the conversation. So hoping you can do me a favour and join in!