Dorset's Wildlife Affected by Climate Change

Changing conditions

Climate change will have unavoidable direct effects on Dorset's wildlife as species face:

hotter and drier summers
longer growing season for plants
wetter winters
more extreme weather events like prolonged drought, intense storms and flooding.

These conditions could significantly affect their range, preferred habitats and behaviour.

Habitats which are dependent on our coasts and wetlands are particularly at risk, with the prospects of sea level rise and longer summer droughts. Extreme weather of all types affects all habitats, for example increased storminess could damage coastal and marine habitats as well as the more obvious trees and woodlands.

Climate change is also likely to have many indirect impacts on Dorset's wildlife as land use sectors like agriculture, forestry, planning, water and coastal management respond to its effects. For example changes in agriculture such as increased energy crops will affect the wildlife found in our countryside; increased summer drought may lead to further difficulties controlling arson events which affect heathlands.

The projected changes suggest that many species will need to disperse to survive. Many of these will find dispersal difficult unless action is taken at multiple scales to address habitat fragmentation.

Wildlife

Two well-known species that are predicted to be affected detrimentally by climate change in Dorset are the Song Thrush and the Stag Beetle.

Song Thrush

For the Song Thrush, the projected hotter, drier summers will reduce the numbers of slugs and snails that it feeds on and reduce survival rates. Significant loss of suitable climatic conditions is expected in Dorset and this now ubiquitous species may become scarce in the county in the future.

Stag Beetle

The Stag Beetle is Britain's largest and most striking terrestrial beetle recognised by its prominent 'antlers'. Dorset has a 'hot spot' for Stag Beetles in the south east of the county particularly in and around Bournemouth, with few records found elsewhere. The species requires dead wood and tree stumps for larval development, so is found in parks, gardens and deciduous woodland. Adult beetles, although able to fly, do not disperse long distances.

If a more southern European climate develops in Dorset, as projected by some forecasts, then the Stag Beetle's presence in the county may be lost.

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