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August 31, 2005
Scottish seabirds failing to breed
Some 45 per cent of all European seabirds nest around the coast of Scotland, but large numbers have failed to breed this year, notably guillemot, puffin, kittiwake and razorbill, and especially on the west coast.
It appears likely that the reason is to do with rising sea temperatures and the resulting scarcity of food for the birds.
Perhaps an indicator of the acceleration of global warming?
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4201880.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at August 31, 2005 10:56 PM
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Comments
Personally I find this kind of thing a lot scarier than freak weather (which could, after all, just be freak weather).
Posted by: Mark Gamon at September 1, 2005 09:47 AM
Absolutely. I have been trying to follow the reports about the rise in sea temperatures. The whole marine ecosystem is apparently in a state of rapid change and it's going to impact on us in various ways.
On the other hand, our weather is always volatile, a warm summer (like the one we have just had in Scotland) is perhaps not significant. Many species (including man!) can tolerate warmer temperatures perfectly well.
Incidentally there was a recent report that scientists now believe that at least one of the great extinctions, 250 million years ago, was due to a build up of C02 in the atmosphere and subsequent global warming.
Posted by: Simon Holledge at September 1, 2005 01:48 PM
It may also have something to do with the Danes in previous years hoovering up the sandeels through industrial fishing in the North Sea and to the west of the Outer Hebrides. That damage continued for years until action was taken this year. Possibly too late though!
Posted by: Gus Mac at September 4, 2005 05:39 PM
I am no expert of this subject but according to a story in the Independent (relating to the Orkneys) dated 30 July 04 (see below), the disappearance of the sandeels is related to warmer seas rather than over-fishing.
Anyway we may have some evidence within a year or so. Sandeel fishing is now banned by the EU, so if they return to Scottish waters that will indicate that over-fishing was the main culprit, if not then it is the warming of the seas.
Posted by: Simon Holledge at September 10, 2005 05:38 PM