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Indicator Assessment
Northward shift and changes in occurrence of selected freshwater species
Note: This indicator shows the evolution of the number of observations of Southern European dragonfly species in Flanders. Due to climate change the number of records of Southern European dragonflies increases in Flanders. Some species that were only occasional visitors in the past, such as Lestes barbarus now have permanent populations.
Hickling, R.; Roy, D. B.; Hill, J. K. and Thomas, C. D., 2005. A northward shift of range margins in British Odonata. Global Change Biology 11 (3): 502506. (left) Biodiversity Indicators, 2006. Climate Change: Trend of Southern European dragonfly species . Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Brussels. www.natuurindicatoren.be (updated 08.05.2006). Available at www.natuurindicatoren. be/indicatorenportal.cgi?lang=en&detail=404&id_ structuur=25. (right)
Model simulation of hydrodynamics and phytoplankton dynamics during three contrasting summers in Lake Nieuwe Meer (the Netherlands)
Northward and upward movement
There are European examples of aquatic species (dragonflies, brown trout) that have shifted their ranges to higher latitudes (northward movement) and altitudes in response to climate warming. Thermophilic fish and invertebrate taxa will to a certain extent replace cold-water taxa. Examples include the brown trout in Alpine rivers (Hari et al., 2006), non-migratory British dragonflies and damselflies (Hickling et al., 2005; Figure 1 left), and south European Dragonflies in Belgium (Biodiversity Indicators, 2006, see Figure 1 right).
Change in species composition and abundance
Climate change will generally have a eutrophicationlike effect (e.g. Schindler, 2001), with enhanced phytoplankton blooms (Wilhelm and Adrian, 2008), and increased dominance of cyanobacteria in phytoplankton communities, resulting in increased threat of harmful cyanobacteria and enhanced health risks, particularly in water bodies used for public water supply and bathing (Johnk et al., 2008; Mooij et al., 2005; Figure 2). More frequent extreme precipitation and runoff events are also expected to increase the load of nutrients to waters and in turn result in more eutrophication.
Changes in temperature have already had profound impacts on the species composition of macrozoobenthos (fauna that spend most of their lives buried in sediments) in northern European lakes (Burgmer et al., 2007). Fish and invertebrate communities have been found to respond to increases in water temperature in the upper Rhone River in France (Daufresne et al., 2004, 2007).
Phenology changes
Changes in growth season, earlier ice break-up or periods above a certain temperature will change lifecycle events, such as an earlier spring phytoplankton bloom, appearance of clear-water phase (because large zooplankton will appear earlier), first day of flight of aquatic insects and time of spawning of fish. Prolongation of the growing season can have major effect on population abundances with an increased number of cell divisions or generations per year.
Phytoplankton and zooplankton blooms in several European lakes are occurring one month earlier than 30-40 years ago (Weyhenmeyer 1999; 2001; Adrian et al., 2006; Noges et al., in press). Manca et al. (2007) found that increasing temperatures at Lago Maggiore have resulted in earlier and longer zooplankton blooms. Hassall et al. (2007) found that British Odonata species over the period 1960 to 2004 changed their first day of flight by 1.5 day per decade.
Invasive freshwater species
Climate change is expected to result in biological invasions of species that originate in warmer regions. For example, the subtropical filamentous highly-toxic cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii thrives in waters that have high temperatures, a stable water column and high nutrient concentrations: it has recently spread rapidly in temperate regions and is now commonly encountered throughout Europe (Dyble et al., 2002).
Its spread into drinking and recreational water supplies has caused international public health concerns due to its potential production of toxins. Fish species adapted to warmer waters, such as carp, may replace native species such as perch and trout in many regions (Kolar and Lodge, 2000).
Many species are projected to shift their ranges to higher latitudes and altitudes in response to climate warming. Southern species will move further north due to further increases of temperature. Species of colder regions will move north and towards higher altitudes or will disappear when their migration is hampered (e.g. due to habitat fragmentation). Some Arctic and alpine species may disappear.
In April 2009 the European Commission presented a White Paper on the framework for adaptation policies and measures to reduce the European Union's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. The aim is to increase the resilience to climate change of health, property and the productive functions of land, inter alia by improving the management of water resources and ecosystems. More knowledge is needed on climate impact and vulnerability but a considerable amount of information and research already exists which can be shared better through a proposed Clearing House Mechanism. The White Paper stresses the need to mainstream adaptation into existing and new EU policies. A number of Member States have already taken action and several have prepared national adaptation plans. The EU is also developing actions to enhance and finance adaptation in developing countries as part of a new post-2012 global climate agreement expected in Copenhagen (Dec. 2009). For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_en.htm
No targets have been specified
No related policy documents have been specified
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp193-207CC2008_ch8_Data_gaps.pdf
No methodology references available.
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp193-207CC2008_ch8_Data_gaps.pdf
http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp193-207CC2008_ch8_Data_gaps.pdf
No uncertainty has been specified
For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/freshwater-biodiversity-and-water-quality/freshwater-biodiversity-and-water-quality or scan the QR code.
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