Warming may exterminate quarter of stream species in next 50 years

Climate change is adversely affecting streams and rivers in Wales, a recent study by Cardiff University has revealed.

Washington, May 5 : Climate change is adversely affecting streams and rivers in Wales, a recent study by Cardiff University has revealed.

Professor Steve Ormerod and Dr Isabelle Durance of the Cardiff School of Biosciences, in their 25-year-old study, examined for the first time at Llyn Brianne in central Wales, the effects of climate change on stream species.

The study looked at the effects of climate change on stream macroinvertebrates - animals that can be seen with the naked eye such as crustaceans, snails and larval insects including stoneflies or mayflies.

Researchers found that the present rate the springtime abundance of macroinvertebrates in streams could decline by as much as 21 per cent for every one degree Celsius rise in temperature.

Professor Ormerod, said: "Streams and rivers are likely to be highly sensitive to climate and yet long-term evidence of effects is scarce globally. Our study shows a clear climate-change signal over the last 25 years, with temperatures warming faster than could be explained by background variations. An ecological response to warming has also been clear".

Dr Durance added: "the numbers of species in the streams we examined might also fall by 12-25 per cent if trends continue as expected over the next 50 years".

As part of their study, the two also examined how climate change interacted with other problems in streams such as the effects of acid rain.

The researchers said though rivers and streams were the key ecosystems for many aquatic species and formed important links with surrounding habitats, yet little emphasis had been given so far to the ecological effects of climate change on these running-waters.

ANI