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Research Matters

Journey on the Wild Side

 
 

We talk about the weather incessantly, yet we seldom consider how short-term and longterm changes in weather conditions affect our wildlife. The astounding migration of painted lady butterflies reveals the influence of weather on wildlife. In 2009, Galwegians were astounded by the arrival of hundreds of painted lady butterflies to their gardens from Morocco. The record migration was caused firstly by heavy rainfall which resulted in plenty of food for the caterpillars, and the timing of the epic journey coincided with a large anticyclone which brought warm, dry sunny weather and south to south-easterly airflow and the butterflies to Ireland. Climate change can affect the distribution and migration of animals in surprising ways. Researchers at NUI Galway are investigating climate change impacts on the timing, life-cycle and ecology of animals such as the Kerry slug or migratory Atlantic mackerel.

The Kerry slug is not considered to be a migratory species, yet climate change may affect its distribution. The slug appeared to be restricted to parts of West Cork and Kerry until July 2010 when the slugs were found on granite outcrops and on the trunks of trees in a conifer plantation in Connemara. While Rory McDonnell recommended that research on these populations be undertaken to determine if they are distinct from those elsewhere in Ireland, climate change modelling projections by David Bourke indicate that the distribution of the slug could expand northwards, all along the western seaboard, as the number of frost-free days and the land area which is completely frost free will increase.

Migratory Atlantic mackerel have a close relationship with their surrounding environment, in particular, sea temperature. Mackerel seem to use changes in sea temperature to direct the migration in early Spring to the spawning grounds in the south. Preliminary results from Kath Hughes’ research indicate that the rate of the spring warming has a significant relationship with how far south mackerel migrate to spawn. While the North east Atlantic as a whole has been increasing in sea surface temperature in recent years, mackerel appear to be mitigating the effect of warming by tracking the ideal sea temperatures and spawning further north. Climate modelling projections indicate that by 2099 mackerel will have the ideal temperatures north of Scotland for spawning, so long as their food source moves with them! There are always many variables involved with the marine environment, but at least the mackerel can move with the times!

 

Author: Dr. Caitriona Carlin, Applied Ecology Unit, Centre for Environmental Science

 

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