REPORT
Biodiversity "all packed" from south to north
Published on October 14th, 2015
“Climate change is considered the greatest threat to biodiversity in the twenty-first century”. The sentence introduces the document of the National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation regarding this sector and justifies the concern in recent years. In Portugal, many researchers have been studying the effects of this phenomenon in different groups of animals.
Climate change is reflected, among others, in temperature increase, in rainfall reduction, and in an increased frequency and intensity of extreme events. In our country, several studies have mainly addressed climate scenarios until the end of the century, in an attempt to understand what can happen to the species.
Since climate in the south is getting warmer, the trend already being observed and that will continue to be observed is clear: the animals are moving north in search of more favourable climatic conditions.
“Alentejo will be virtually without amphibians.” Maria João Cruz, biologist and researcher at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL), recently published an article with emphasis on these animals, having studied direct and indirect impacts. Amphibians and reptiles are more vulnerable to climate change, because their ability to regulate body temperature is very low, and they are highly dependent on weather conditions. Amphibians may be more adversely affected than the reptiles, as they depend more on aquatic habitats such as ponds.
As there will be “less and less precipitation”, for example in the spring, “season during which they reproduce”, what will happen is that “the ponds will dry before the species can reproduce”, explains the biologist who also belongs to the group of research on climate change: Climate Change Impacts Adaptation & Modelling. The western spadefoot (Pelobates cultripes), the Iberian painted frog (Discoglossus galganoi), among others, fit this profile and may be indirectly harmed by climate change.
For instance, a frog can perhaps tolerate the direct impact of temperature increase, but its habitat may be threatened. What to do? “We recommend monitoring these species and eventually change their conservation status”, she replies. One the conclusions of the study developed by the research group is that this phenomenon is affecting the “peace” of various species with a non-endangered status in the Red Book of Vertebrates.
Since climate in the south is getting warmer, the trend already being observed and that will continue to be observed is clear: the animals are moving north in search of more favourable climatic conditions.
“Alentejo will be virtually without amphibians.” Maria João Cruz, biologist and researcher at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon (FCUL), recently published an article with emphasis on these animals, having studied direct and indirect impacts. Amphibians and reptiles are more vulnerable to climate change, because their ability to regulate body temperature is very low, and they are highly dependent on weather conditions. Amphibians may be more adversely affected than the reptiles, as they depend more on aquatic habitats such as ponds.
As there will be “less and less precipitation”, for example in the spring, “season during which they reproduce”, what will happen is that “the ponds will dry before the species can reproduce”, explains the biologist who also belongs to the group of research on climate change: Climate Change Impacts Adaptation & Modelling. The western spadefoot (Pelobates cultripes), the Iberian painted frog (Discoglossus galganoi), among others, fit this profile and may be indirectly harmed by climate change.
For instance, a frog can perhaps tolerate the direct impact of temperature increase, but its habitat may be threatened. What to do? “We recommend monitoring these species and eventually change their conservation status”, she replies. One the conclusions of the study developed by the research group is that this phenomenon is affecting the “peace” of various species with a non-endangered status in the Red Book of Vertebrates.
"Gold-striped salamander in danger"
The gold-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica) is another species that requires urgent adaptation measures, according to the experts report. “It is an endemic species that only exists in the north of the Iberian Peninsula in a very small, cool and wet area, and therefore it is unlikely to get away from the changes of its habitat”, says Maria João Cruz. The expert reinforces the urgency of implementing these actions, adding that conditions should be created so that the species can survive.
Conservation is an issue that has also been much discussed in Évora by the Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO-INBio). The researchers of this institution reinforce the importance of knowing the distribution of national fauna, and of making projections from climate models to help understand which species best adapt to climate change.
“All species that already have a very limited distribution are the most vulnerable”, begins by explaining Diogo Alagador. The researcher will have, in 2016, a new project at hand that uses “two types of variables: climate information and land use forecasts”, the latter based on the climate. “We will try to understand how species are going to redistribute in space, and design optimised conservation scenarios”, he adds. Identifying protected areas is one of the research goals. “Our goal is for several groups of animals to persist as long as possible”.
For this purpose the studies reinforce the need to establish ecological corridors. These corridors are paths protected from human intervention and facilitate the movement of animals to areas where the climate is more favourable.
The gold-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica) is another species that requires urgent adaptation measures, according to the experts report. “It is an endemic species that only exists in the north of the Iberian Peninsula in a very small, cool and wet area, and therefore it is unlikely to get away from the changes of its habitat”, says Maria João Cruz. The expert reinforces the urgency of implementing these actions, adding that conditions should be created so that the species can survive.
Conservation is an issue that has also been much discussed in Évora by the Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO-INBio). The researchers of this institution reinforce the importance of knowing the distribution of national fauna, and of making projections from climate models to help understand which species best adapt to climate change.
“All species that already have a very limited distribution are the most vulnerable”, begins by explaining Diogo Alagador. The researcher will have, in 2016, a new project at hand that uses “two types of variables: climate information and land use forecasts”, the latter based on the climate. “We will try to understand how species are going to redistribute in space, and design optimised conservation scenarios”, he adds. Identifying protected areas is one of the research goals. “Our goal is for several groups of animals to persist as long as possible”.
For this purpose the studies reinforce the need to establish ecological corridors. These corridors are paths protected from human intervention and facilitate the movement of animals to areas where the climate is more favourable.
Searching for the "villages of the Gauls"
The smaller sized mammals can also be more easily affected by climate change. “Small mammals have a low dispersion capacity and it is possible that they cannot keep up with climate change”, affirms Diogo Alagador. “Not to say that the population will become extinct, but it may be subject to stress that, over time, could result in effective local extinctions.”
“The hibernation time of bats is decreasing in Portugal and this is already a visible impact”, claims Hugo Rebelo, also a researcher at CIBIO-INBIO, who studies these flying mammals. “We do not know yet what the consequences are for their population”, he explains. “Bats have only one cub per year and these are usually born between May and June, but we have records in recent years of pregnant females in February”, he added.
The scientist also says that the work is now focused on “identifying areas where population numbers will decline and places where there might be a sort of “village of indomitable Gauls” (refugia) in which populations subsist in small areas where the climate is still suitable”. The aim is to study the genetic adaptations of the species to see which have the “best assets” and can better adapt to climate change. “Those are the species that are going to be a priority in terms of conservation, since they have a higher chance of survival”.
Continuing with flights, but in daytime, Dora Neto from the CIBIO-INBIO/UÉvora, who participated in a study on the Iberian Peninsula with data on the spatial distribution of various animals, points out that “birds are the most studied group when we talk about climate change, because they are good indicators of the existence of this phenomenon”. “Migratory birds, especially long distance ones, are the most susceptible due to the fact that they are dependent on certain conditions to reach their destination and go through areas that are crucial, which are and will be increasingly affected by climate change”, she explains.
It is possible to observe some effects on birds in Portugal. Swallows, for example, are coming to our country earlier and earlier, in anticipation of the spring period.
The red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) is an example of a species with difficulty in dealing with this phenomenon, and the data based on climate models forecasts “point to a decline of the population to the point of extinction at a national level”. Dora Neto says that the vulnerability of these animals “relates to the capabilities that each species has to adapt, morphologically and physiologically, to climate conditions."
The smaller sized mammals can also be more easily affected by climate change. “Small mammals have a low dispersion capacity and it is possible that they cannot keep up with climate change”, affirms Diogo Alagador. “Not to say that the population will become extinct, but it may be subject to stress that, over time, could result in effective local extinctions.”
“The hibernation time of bats is decreasing in Portugal and this is already a visible impact”, claims Hugo Rebelo, also a researcher at CIBIO-INBIO, who studies these flying mammals. “We do not know yet what the consequences are for their population”, he explains. “Bats have only one cub per year and these are usually born between May and June, but we have records in recent years of pregnant females in February”, he added.
The scientist also says that the work is now focused on “identifying areas where population numbers will decline and places where there might be a sort of “village of indomitable Gauls” (refugia) in which populations subsist in small areas where the climate is still suitable”. The aim is to study the genetic adaptations of the species to see which have the “best assets” and can better adapt to climate change. “Those are the species that are going to be a priority in terms of conservation, since they have a higher chance of survival”.
Continuing with flights, but in daytime, Dora Neto from the CIBIO-INBIO/UÉvora, who participated in a study on the Iberian Peninsula with data on the spatial distribution of various animals, points out that “birds are the most studied group when we talk about climate change, because they are good indicators of the existence of this phenomenon”. “Migratory birds, especially long distance ones, are the most susceptible due to the fact that they are dependent on certain conditions to reach their destination and go through areas that are crucial, which are and will be increasingly affected by climate change”, she explains.
It is possible to observe some effects on birds in Portugal. Swallows, for example, are coming to our country earlier and earlier, in anticipation of the spring period.
The red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) is an example of a species with difficulty in dealing with this phenomenon, and the data based on climate models forecasts “point to a decline of the population to the point of extinction at a national level”. Dora Neto says that the vulnerability of these animals “relates to the capabilities that each species has to adapt, morphologically and physiologically, to climate conditions."
Less flounders and new tropical water species
At sea there are species of fish known to the Portuguese whose populations can suffer a reduction due to temperature increase. “We are seeing the disappearance of the European flounder (Platichthys flesus) from the waters further south and centre”, describes Catarina Vinagre, researcher at FCUL. “It continues to be caught, but its population is increasingly restricted to estuary waters north of the Tejo, where it has practically vanished”.
Moreover, this area requires further accurate studies in order to understand exactly which species will be affected. The impact of climate change on the marine ecosystem may not include the disappearance of a single species, “but it may suffer such a reduction its fishing won´t be worth it”, she emphasises. The researcher also says that “a decline and/ or disappearance of species of temperate waters is more likely to occur, as well as an increase and emergence of new tropical water species”.
Catarina Vinagre is currently working on identifying the most sensitive species in terms of adaptation. “We must continue to deepen the knowledge we possess on these areas and above all annually monitor the most important fish populations and the ecosystems where they are located”, she concludes.
Based on several studies, a series of measures to adapt to climate change is already in place, and divided by various groups of animals. Although these are already selected and scheduled in the National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation - Biodiversity Sector, there is still much work to be done, according to the researchers. Dora Neto finishes by saying that "Portugal is not yet responding efficiently to what is already known, and it must provide an answer to that knowledge, as well as bet on new studies so as to focus on the most vulnerable species in potential climate change scenarios."
At sea there are species of fish known to the Portuguese whose populations can suffer a reduction due to temperature increase. “We are seeing the disappearance of the European flounder (Platichthys flesus) from the waters further south and centre”, describes Catarina Vinagre, researcher at FCUL. “It continues to be caught, but its population is increasingly restricted to estuary waters north of the Tejo, where it has practically vanished”.
Moreover, this area requires further accurate studies in order to understand exactly which species will be affected. The impact of climate change on the marine ecosystem may not include the disappearance of a single species, “but it may suffer such a reduction its fishing won´t be worth it”, she emphasises. The researcher also says that “a decline and/ or disappearance of species of temperate waters is more likely to occur, as well as an increase and emergence of new tropical water species”.
Catarina Vinagre is currently working on identifying the most sensitive species in terms of adaptation. “We must continue to deepen the knowledge we possess on these areas and above all annually monitor the most important fish populations and the ecosystems where they are located”, she concludes.
Based on several studies, a series of measures to adapt to climate change is already in place, and divided by various groups of animals. Although these are already selected and scheduled in the National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation - Biodiversity Sector, there is still much work to be done, according to the researchers. Dora Neto finishes by saying that "Portugal is not yet responding efficiently to what is already known, and it must provide an answer to that knowledge, as well as bet on new studies so as to focus on the most vulnerable species in potential climate change scenarios."
By: Renata Silva