Rehfisch, M.M. 2007. Helping birds adapt to climate change. In: Proceedings of the Practicalities of Climate Change: Adaptation and Mitigation Conference of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Cardiff, November 2006. IEEM. Pp 92-101.

Abstract

The predicted change in climate over the few decades is beyond anything witnessed in historical times (IPCC, 2001a). The major challenge for ecologists, physiologists and land managers is to predict the effects of human-induced climate and atmospheric change on species and on communities, predictions that have to include effects on physiology, distributions, phenology and individual adaptation (Hughes, 2000). Even if it proves almost impossible to predict accurately future responses of biota to climatic change (Danell et al., 1999, Lawton, 1996) due to the many interacting factors that will determine such responses, Figure 1, it should be possible to use current knowledge to suggest scenarios of possible change (e.g. Sala et al., 2000) and to use these to determine how species could be helped to adapt in the face of climate change.

In this paper the existing and predicted effects of climate change on weather and on birds are summarized. It is then suggested how adaptation could help minimize some of the negative effects of climate change on birds. Throughout adaptation is taken to be a human intervention to address the effects of climate change, and not an autonomous response of the ecosystems themselves (IPCC, 2001b).

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