As the UK continues to experience the affects of a changing climate, the implications for wildlife are becoming increasingly evident.
From shifts in species behaviour to the degradation of vital habitats, the natural world is responding to weather patterns that are becoming more extreme and less predictable.
The Met Office, in collaboration with The Wildlife Trusts, have been working to better understand and communicate these changes. This partnership has brought together climate science and conservation expertise to assess how temperature fluctuations, shifting rainfall patterns, and rising sea levels are affecting species and ecosystems across the UK.
Impacts on species behaviour
One area of focus has been the impact of changing weather on species behaviour. For example, in Northern Ireland, warmer and wetter conditions are influencing barn owl nesting habits and sightings. These changes can disrupt breeding cycles and reduce the availability of prey, threatening the long-term viability of local populations.
In coastal regions such as Kent, rising sea-surface temperatures are contributing to the spread of invasive species like the Pacific oyster. These oysters compete with native wildlife for space and resources along the shoreline, altering the balance of delicate marine ecosystems.
The effects of extreme weather events are also being felt in freshwater environments. During June 2023, high temperatures led to a significant drop in oxygen levels in rivers, resulting in fish deaths in the River Cam and distress among aquatic life in the South East. The Environment Agency responded by aerating rivers to restore oxygen levels, highlighting the growing need for climate-responsive water management strategies.
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Altering plant lifecycles
Climate change is also altering the timing and success of plant life cycles. Early-season heat can shorten flowering periods, reducing food availability for pollinators and limiting fruit production in the autumn. This has knock-on effects for birds and small mammals that rely on berries and seeds to survive the colder months.
To mitigate some of these impacts, The Wildlife Trusts are exploring nature-based solutions. One such initiative is the reintroduction of beavers to various parts of the UK. Beavers build dams that create wetlands—rich habitats that support a wide range of species including dragonflies, amphibians, and waterbirds. These wetlands also help manage flood risk by absorbing heavy rainfall and replenishing groundwater supplies.
Habitat loss
Woodlands, too, play a crucial role in climate adaptation and mitigation. Trees sequester (draw down) carbon dioxide, helping to curb the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. But their benefits extend far beyond carbon storage. Native woodlands provide essential habitats for thousands of species, UK oak trees alone support around 2,300 different organisms.
Unfortunately, climate change is also increasing the prevalence and expanding the range of pests and diseases. One notable example is the oak processionary moth, the spread of which can have a high impact on native trees across the UK. The loss of these trees not only reduces biodiversity but also weakens the resilience of forest ecosystems.
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Protecting and expanding woodlands is therefore a key strategy in the UK’s response to climate change. These landscapes offer co-benefits: they support wildlife, improve air quality, provide shade and cooling, and help manage water flow to reduce flood risks.
New species and shifting ranges
A recent IPCC report indicated that species across Europe are shifting their ranges northward in response to warming temperatures. This trend is particularly evident here in the UK, where naturalists have observed species moving both north and uphill over recent decades. Birds, insects, and other wildlife are adapting to new climates, with some southern European species now establishing themselves in Britain. The 2008 Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds projected that the average bird species’ range would shift 550 km northeast by the century’s end, with significant reductions in range size and overlap with current habitats.
These projections are increasingly being realized. Species like the little egret, once rare in the UK, have now become common across much of the country. Other herons, such as the great white egret and cattle egret, are following suit. Insects have also shown dramatic range expansions.
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The long-winged conehead, once confined to the south coast, is now found in the Midlands, while the median wasp has spread from Sussex to northern England since its first UK sighting in 1980. The Met Office’s Biodiversity Working Group has played a role in supporting these changes by creating habitats at the Met Office for colonizing species like the small red-eyed damselfly, first recorded in the UK in 1999.
Long-winged Conehead. Image: Grahame Madge.
However, not all species are benefiting. The wryneck, a bird once nesting in the UK, has become extinct as a breeder despite the warming climate potentially suiting it. Habitat loss, such as the decline of ant-rich grasslands, poses barriers to its return.
As climate change continues to reshape the UK’s natural environment, it is vital that we work with nature rather than against it. By integrating climate science into conservation planning, we can build resilience into our ecosystems and ensure that wildlife has the best chance of adapting to the challenges ahead.
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Wryneck. Image: Grahame Madge.