Vanishing Butterflies: Climate Change Suspected - Rawan For Media Artistic and Production
There
has been a 76% fall in the number of resident and regular migrant
butterflies over the past 40 years, according to a joint report by
charities Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology &
Hydrology (CEH).
Numbers have fallen across Europe as a whole but the UK - and southern England in particular - has been worst affected.
It
is not clear what has caused the fall but experts suggest the "varied"
effects of climate change, deterioration of suitable habitats and
increased use of herbicides and pesticides may have played their part.
The predicament was one that "should shame us all", said Butterfly Conservation vice-president Chris Packham.
"As a society we are guilty of standing idly by as once common species, never mind the rarities, suffer staggering declines.
"We are finally facing the meltdown that was coming all along.
"There is a very, very urgent need to understand the reasons for the decline, which are likely to be complex."
Mr
Packham added: "Climate change has had a significant impact - some of
the migrant species are increasing, because of milder winters and
warmer, wetter springs. However, the bread and butter of British
butterflies are not benefiting."
Once
common species such as the Wall, Essex Skipper and Small Heath are now
among the scarcer types of butterfly in the UK and the Gatekeeper - once
one of the country's most widely seen butterflies - has suffered a 44%
drop over the past decade.
Increased
agricultural farming, including the decline of flower-rich meadows,
removal of hedgerows and increased nitrogen being released into the
environment, is believed to have had an impact on numbers.
The
report, The State of the UK's Butterflies 2015, warns that climate
change has had "much more varied, subtle and worrying impacts on
butterflies than had previously been realised".
Warmer
temperatures are attracting more foreign butterflies to Britain's
shores, with populations of common migrant species - the Clouded Yellow,
Red Admiral and Painted Lady - showing a dramatic increase since the
1970s.
There
is some hope, however, with the organisation saying that, despite the
gloomy situation in general, the recording and monitoring of the UK's
butterflies has "never been stronger".
Data
from the past 10 years is showing a more positive trend, the report
said, as continuing intensive conservation efforts produce a
"breakthrough" effect.
By Sky News, 13 hours 45 minutes ago
The huge drop in the number of UK butterflies could be due to climate change, a study has claimed.
There
has been a 76% fall in the number of resident and regular migrant
butterflies over the past 40 years, according to a joint report by
charities Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology &
Hydrology (CEH).
Numbers have fallen across Europe as a whole but the UK - and southern England in particular - has been worst affected.
It
is not clear what has caused the fall but experts suggest the "varied"
effects of climate change, deterioration of suitable habitats and
increased use of herbicides and pesticides may have played their part.
The predicament was one that "should shame us all", said Butterfly Conservation vice-president Chris Packham.
"As a society we are guilty of standing idly by as once common species, never mind the rarities, suffer staggering declines.
"We are finally facing the meltdown that was coming all along.
"There is a very, very urgent need to understand the reasons for the decline, which are likely to be complex."
Mr
Packham added: "Climate change has had a significant impact - some of
the migrant species are increasing, because of milder winters and
warmer, wetter springs. However, the bread and butter of British
butterflies are not benefiting."
Once
common species such as the Wall, Essex Skipper and Small Heath are now
among the scarcer types of butterfly in the UK and the Gatekeeper - once
one of the country's most widely seen butterflies - has suffered a 44%
drop over the past decade.
Increased
agricultural farming, including the decline of flower-rich meadows,
removal of hedgerows and increased nitrogen being released into the
environment, is believed to have had an impact on numbers.
The
report, The State of the UK's Butterflies 2015, warns that climate
change has had "much more varied, subtle and worrying impacts on
butterflies than had previously been realised".
Warmer
temperatures are attracting more foreign butterflies to Britain's
shores, with populations of common migrant species - the Clouded Yellow,
Red Admiral and Painted Lady - showing a dramatic increase since the
1970s.
There
is some hope, however, with the organisation saying that, despite the
gloomy situation in general, the recording and monitoring of the UK's
butterflies has "never been stronger".
Data
from the past 10 years is showing a more positive trend, the report
said, as continuing intensive conservation efforts produce a
"breakthrough" effect.
By Sky News, 13 hours 45 minutes ago
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