Signs of climate change found in Llandudno

Sep 11 2008 by Michelle Coyle, North Wales Weekly News

ECOLOGISTS have found evidence of climate change on Llandudno’s rocky shore as species migrate north.

The national Shore Thing survey has teamed marine experts with schools to study behavioural changes in marine life on rocky shores.

Bangor scientist Liz Morris from Marine Ecological Solutions who ran the Llandudno survey said: “School pupils found a thick top shell and a suspected Montagu’s crab, species normally found in warm, southern waters.

“The Llyn Peninsula has traditionally divided southern waters and colder northern waters, but things are changing. Divers around North Wales are recording more and more species which have never been seen so far north before, which is an indicator of climate change.”

Project officer Fiona Crouch at the Marine Biological Association explained: “We have been looking for 22 climate change indicator species on shores around the UK, five of which we found in Llandudno in July.

“Leading scientists have predicted that sea temperatures will rise by 2°C by 2050 if we don’t do anything to change our carbon-reliant ways. As sea temperatures rise, many marine species are moving north from what we would consider their normal bio-geographical ranges. The changes are still subtle, but finding species in Llandudno that have traditionally lived further south is significant.

“The thick top shell (osilinus lineatus) is abundant in the south and normally found in Cornwall but is slowing moving north as the sea warms. Llandudno is the furthest north we have found this species.

“It is quite amazing that the humble thick top shell could be so important in monitoring the impact of climate change,” added Fiona.

“Shore Thing gets young people out of the classroom to do real scientific research. We now have a good baseline of Llandudno data from which we can compare change in future years.

“North Wales is a key bio-geographical zone and we will need many more surveys to assess the impact of climate change here. I am appealing to schools and community groups in the area to take part in Shore Thing so we can monitor marine life here.”

michelle.coyle

To get involved with Shore Thing, contact Fiona on 01752 633336.