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Bird species falling due to habitat loss and climate change
Willow warbler
Cold-associated birds like the willow warbler have already vanished from some bird communities.

Researchers analyse over four decades of records


Some bird and butterfly species in the UK could vanish if they do not have enough natural habitat to allow them to adapt to global warming, a new study concludes.

The research, published in Global Change Biology, found that cold-associated birds like the willow tit, meadow pipit and willow warbler have already disappeared from some bird communities.

While scientists have known for some time that climate change affects individual species differently, this is the first study to show how habitat loss combines with climate change to drive the loss of species.

“There is a clear signature of climate change on our country’s wildlife, and for many species the situation is worse where the landscape is dominated by arable land and intensively managed grasslands, explained study leader Dr Tom Oliver from the University of Reading.

“Bird communities are struggling to successfully adapt to the warming we’ve had over recent decades. Although butterflies are coping much better, in both cases a lack of natural habitat in our landscapes is putting cold-associated species between a rock and a hard place by limiting their ability to find resources and survive.”

In the study, researchers analysed more than four decades worth of bird and butterfly records from over 600 monitoring sites around England.

They found that numbers of both cold-associated and warm associated birds have fallen over time. But cold-associated species have declined even more as temperatures have risen. This means that many bird communities are now dominated by warm-loving species.

The team also found that butterfly communities in the north of England are gaining new warm-associated species, like the speckled wood butterfly. Yet cold-associated species like the northern brown argus are not fairing well. The research revealed that numbers are dropping in areas where their natural habitat has been destroyed.

The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Reading, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, The British Trust for Ornithology, Butterfly Conservation and Natural England.

Dr Mike Morecroft, principal climate change specialist at Natural England, said: “Climate change is with us, here and now, and its effects on wildlife are increasingly well documented.

“This study shows that the way we manage the land can affect the resilience of our wildlife; working together to create larger natural areas in strategic places will help species to cope with a changing climate.”

Image (C) Steve Garvie

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.