Scientists to monitor effect on mountain plants and birds
Climate change takes toll in Scotland
Published:
Climate change is already affecting the types of plants growing on Scotland’s highest mountains and could soon threaten bird species.
Research in the Cairngorms shows that species of high-altitude vegetation changed between 1989 and 2007.
Scientists will now study Highland mountains to monitor the impact of climate change on Scottish plants.
Vegetation at high altitude in sub-arctic habitats will be monitored and recorded to measure any future changes.
The Snowbed Project, led by Scottish Natural Heritage, will examine sites throughout the Highlands, including the Cairngorms; Aonach Mor near Fort William; Ben Dearg, Wester Ross; Ben Alder, Dalwhinnie, and Ben Wyvis, Ross-shire.
The project will closely survey the sites to establish quantity and distribution of all the species that characterise these fragile habitats.
The recordings will establish a baseline inventory of each site to measure any changes in these habitats through loss of species or new arrivals.
SNH’s David Genney said: “The impact of climate change on the lower plants and bryophytes which characterise these areas will also affect the whole snowbed ecosystem. Our preliminary results indicate that these communities are already being colonised by larger flowering plants that risk replacing these characteristic mosses and liverworts.
“Any loss of this habitat will pose a direct threat to birds such as ptarmigan, snow bunting and dotterel which feed on the insects that live in the moss, and so the impact will spread.”
The project builds on the foundation work of scientist and mountaineer Gordon Rothero, who surveyed snowbeds in the Cairngorms in 1989, followed by the rest of the Highlands in 1990.
Mr Rothero said: “Comparison of the photographs I took of various snowbed sites in 1989 with those taken during this project last summer show clear changes in the pattern of vegetation.”
The information will also be shared by Bergen University in Norway because of similarities in the climate.
Snowbed vegetation is restricted to high corries where long-lying snow stops flowering plants from taking over small plants such as mosses and liverworts, which are collectively called bryophytes.
Scottish snowbeds support several rare mosses, liverworts and lichens.
