From BTO

Climate change is having dramatic effects on many of our species, and not always in obvious ways. A new study demonstrates that climate change disrupts natural relationships between species. Part II of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) fifth assessment report, published at the end of March, reported that climate change is altering species’ distributions and populations with high confidence. However, what is less clear is how and why. Latest research led by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) shows that the main driver of change might actually occur through altered interactions between species, rather than direct responses to climate.

Each species shares an ecosystem with other species, some of which it might eat, and others that might eat it or compete with it. Scientists from the BTO and other partners of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) found it was the effects of climatic changes upon the populations or activity of these other species which were responsible for many of the impacts observed, as they cascade through the food chain. For example, Arctic fox populations have been affected by declining lemming populations linked to changes in snow cover, and also by expanding red fox populations. Hungry Arctic foxes may look to other prey such as breeding wildfowl like brent goose and waders like sanderling  (they already feed on these birds during ‘lemming years’ – in Jersey we don’t see any young geese at all some years). In the UK, upland birds such as the golden plover are affected by increasing summer temperatures, which causes problems for their cranefly prey. These disruptions particularly affect predatory species, and appear to have worsened with climate change.

Dr James Pearce-Higgins of the BTO said, “Although it might be assumed that most species are responding directly to climatic changes, either as individuals move to keep within their favoured climate zone, or through survival and reproductive rates linked closely to these climatic variables, this does not account for the majority of impacts. Instead, the main impacts of climate change occur through altered interactions between species within an ecosystem.”

Importantly, as much conservation action is already about managing species’ populations, such as controlling invasive species or reducing predation risk, we already have the conservation tools in place to reduce the impacts of climate change on species. This understanding, therefore, provides hope that we can help the most vulnerable species adapt to climate change, providing the magnitude of climate change is not too great, and that conservation activity is sufficiently funded. For example, in the UK uplands, we can restore degraded peatland habitats to boost invertebrate cranefly populations, and increase their resilience to climate change. Whilst this work also helps identify the types of species’ most vulnerable to future climate change impacts, there remains a lack of information from the tropics, where most species’ occur, and where increased monitoring and research is essential.

“This study highlights a need to consider the often complex ecological relationships between species when assessing the impacts of climate change on wildlife.” says Jamie Carr of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a co-author on the study. “Most research to date has focused on the direct impacts of changing conditions, which may mean that important emerging threats are being overlooked.”

The report can be seen here

From Ramsey Island and Grassholm

This month saw the start of an innovative project in local waters aimed at trying to lure puffins back to Ramsey one of the Pembrokeshire islands and an RSPB reserve. Puffins used to breed on Ramsey in the 1800’s but with the arrival of rats through shipwrecks their days as a breeding species on the island were numbered. Rats are, as we have seen on other islands (see here and here for other local examples), voracious predators and when they find their way onto seabird islands their impact is devastating. Millions of years of evolution have seen some species of seabird adapt to breed in burrows underground. This allows them to avoid avian predators such as gulls but when you suddenly introduce an alien mammalian predator to which they have no defence the impact is catastrophic.

Work 14 years ago by RSPB and Wildlife Management International meant that the introduced rats were finally eradicated. The response of Manx shearwaters has been impressive with an increase from 850 pairs in 1999 to 3,835 pairs in 2012. Storm petrels were recorded breeding for the first time in 2008 but puffins have not made it back yet

Four years ago, decoy puffins were put out on Ramsey’s cliff tops in the hope that they might attract puffins regularly seen at sea around the Island (there is colony nearby at Skomer Island) but with no success. However, seeing the responses of puffins at Copeland Island where sound was added a couple of years ago it was decided to try this approach on Ramsey. Nigel Butcher, ace technician in the Conservation Science Department at the RSPB made the sound system which plays the call of a puffin on a repeat loop from a loudspeaker (very loudly!). German technology then completed the outfit when Michael Hoffman, one of Ramsey Island’s regular and very talented volunteers made a sturdy frame on which to securely site the device plus a solar panel to keep the battery topped up.

The decoys accompanying the sound system were made by Ed Tycer. It is hoped these will act as an added attraction if birds make landfall.

The system was trialled last year for a short, four-week period, with some success whilst dealing with early teething problems. Birds were recorded making landfall on low tide rocks below the speaker and on one memorable occasion eight birds landed on the cliff tops among the decoys. With the device out for a full season this year it is hoped the project can build on this success and see puffins return to their rightful place on the Ramsey Island breeding bird list.

Could a project like this work in the Channel Islands? Well, yes, in theory it would be well worth trying. However, where is there suitable puffin-friendly ground that has no rats? That is pretty scarce and the best current puffin site, Burhou, probably already has space for more puffins anyway. But, with tiny colonies away from Burhou only barely surviving, could birds be lured to safer spots? That might well be worth trying – but first, get rid of those pesky rats!

Birds On The Edge is grateful to Greg Morgan for help in producing this report. You can follow the Ramsey puffin story at the Island’s blog and even on Twitter @RSPBRamsey

The Environment Department, La Société Guernesiaise and Guernsey’s RSPB group have launched ‘Give Wildlife A Chance’ a code of conduct created to raise awareness of the internationally important seabirds and marine mammals that live and breed in and around Guernsey. The Code encourages people to observe guidelines to prevent the unnecessary disturbance of birds and seals around their breeding and feeding sites.

Kayakers and boat owners are being asked to take special care to keep their distance from the seal breeding and haul out areas around the Humps and Les Hanois.

Temporary signage will be placed around the most sensitive seabird breeding sites in Guernsey including Jerbourg, the south coast cliffs and Pleinmont. The signs will be in place for the duration of the breeding season which runs from 1^st February to 31^st July. The most vulnerable species of seabirds breeding in Guernsey and the surrounding Islands include terns, puffins, guillemots, razorbills, shags, cormorants and oystercatchers. It is also very important not to disturb gulls from their traditional breeding sites on the south coast cliffs and islets as they then may move into St Peter Port and other urban areas and start to nest on roofs, which would bring increasing conflict with people, something we would all wish to avoid!

Many of these species have been seriously affected by the high winds and heavy seas during the extended period of storms earlier in the year. A mass seabird wreck (high mortality of seabirds) was experienced in the subsequent weeks, with over 30,000 dead seabirds being recorded washed up in UK, France and Channel Islands (see our report here). The worst affected were auks (puffins, guillemots and razorbills) with over 15,000 puffins recorded as dead.  Whilst there were few post mortems a large number were recorded as in very poor condition and considered to have died from a combination of exhaustion and starvation as they were unable to feed.

Previously the most comparable mass seabird mortalities in our region were the Torrey Canyon oil spill disaster in 1967 and Amoco Cadiz disaster in with 15,000-20,000 reported dead during each incident – possibly half the number recently recorded as washed up on beaches following the severe storms.

It is hoped that with the introduction of the ‘Give Wildlife A Chance’ code of conduct as many people as possible will be aware of the special significance of the Guernsey sites, and in particularly the need for breeding seabirds and seals to be left undisturbed. It’s likely that this will be a very difficult breeding season for many seabirds as many birds remain in relatively poor condition. However, if they are able to recover with as little disturbance from human activities as possible it may be possible to regain the numbers of birds lost although ornithologists acknowledge that this may take many years.

Donna Francis, the Guernsey RSPB group leader, said, “Birds that are disturbed while trying to breed waste valuable energy at a time when they are trying to raise their young. Some species may abandon nests and chicks if sites are regularly subject to disturbance. Hopefully ‘Give Wildlife A Chance’ will increase people’s interest and help make them aware of the birds’ needs and how they can protect them.”

Environment Minister, Roger Domaille said “The Environment Board fully supports the introduction of ‘Give Wildlife A Chance’ – our seabirds are the most iconic wildlife Guernsey has and many people are unaware that the Bailiwick is a breeding outpost for some very vulnerable species such as puffins which are reduced to a handful of breeding pairs now. I’m delighted to see the launch of this code of conduct to help reduce disturbance to wildlife and as such it addresses one of the action plans identified in the proposed Biodiversity Strategy for Guernsey”.

This is the first of a range of initiatives to be implemented in order to help enhance and conserve Guernsey’s wildlife and natural landscape.

Download Give wildlife a chance here

In Jersey you can download:

Jersey Marine & Coastal Wildlife Watching Code here

Plémont to Grève de Lecq seabird protection zone leaflet here

Écréhous seabird protection zone leaflet here