1. Results The graph on the right shows that many different taxonomic groups have made significant mean shifts northwards: however, there was variation within and between different taxonomic groups. There were taxonomic groups with enough data in both intervals, however the numbers and identities of species that were included in each interval was different. The numbers in brackets indicate the number of species in each group. Results The graph on the right shows that many different taxonomic groups have made significant mean shifts northwards: however, there was variation within and between different taxonomic groups. There were taxonomic groups with enough data in both intervals, however the numbers and identities of species that were included in each interval was different. The numbers in brackets indicate the number of species in each group. Methods Study area: Mainland Britain, divided into 10km squares (right) Time periods: Change in distribution was measured between two intervals, Interval 1: 1966-1975 and 1986-1995 Interval 2: 1986-1995 and 2001-2010 Taxa selection: 21 taxonomic groups were selected using data from various UK recording schemes. These data were collected together by the Biological Records Centre, based at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Species selection: All taxonomic groups were subject to exclusion criteria, which are shown below in the flow diagram. Methods Study area: Mainland Britain, divided into 10km squares (right) Time periods: Change in distribution was measured between two intervals, Interval 1: 1966-1975 and 1986-1995 Interval 2: 1986-1995 and 2001-2010 Taxa selection: 21 taxonomic groups were selected using data from various UK recording schemes. These data were collected together by the Biological Records Centre, based at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Species selection: All taxonomic groups were subject to exclusion criteria, which are shown below in the flow diagram. WHY is data on range changes for multiple taxonomic groups important for policy? BECAUSE how species respond to environmental change will impact how we can protect them I am a second year NERC-funded PhD candidate studying the impacts of climate on distribution change across a wide range of taxonomic groups Contact me at sazmas@ceh.ac.uk and @SuzannaCMason Suzanna Mason 1,2, Georgina Palmer 2, Simon Gillings 3, Jane Hill 2, Chris Thomas 2 Richard Fox 4, Tom Oliver 1 British taxa shift their geographical range margins northwards in response to environmental change Conclusions This work shows that British species are shifting their range margins at variable rates, showing heterogeneity within their taxonomic group and between other taxa as well. Implications for policy Policy-makers need to be aware that not all species respond to climate change in the same way, and the risks posed by climate change will not impact all species equally. Conclusions This work shows that British species are shifting their range margins at variable rates, showing heterogeneity within their taxonomic group and between other taxa as well. Implications for policy Policy-makers need to be aware that not all species respond to climate change in the same way, and the risks posed by climate change will not impact all species equally. Northern Range Shift We calculated range shift as the change in species' northern range margin over an interval. Species' northern range margin calculated as the mean latitude of the 10 most northerly occupied 10km squares Northern Range Shift We calculated range shift as the change in species' northern range margin over an interval. Species' northern range margin calculated as the mean latitude of the 10 most northerly occupied 10km squares 3 3 4 4 Introduction Problem : British species are changing their distributions as the environment is altered by climate change, agriculture, pollution and urbanisation. Before distribution change can be explained, it must first be described. Introduction Problem : British species are changing their distributions as the environment is altered by climate change, agriculture, pollution and urbanisation. Before distribution change can be explained, it must first be described. Very little is known, about how different taxa respond to these factors, and how much these responses vary within and between taxa. 1 1 Why is this research important? If we are to conserve species as their environment changes......then we need to understand why there is such variation in the way that species respond to these changes Why is this research important? If we are to conserve species as their environment changes......then we need to understand why there is such variation in the way that species respond to these changes 2 2 6 6 1 2 34 633km 554km 485km Time period 2 (1986-1995) Time period 3 (2001-2010) Time period 1 (1966-1975) The three maps below show the distributions and northern range margins, in each time period, of the small skipper butterfly, pictured right In total, the data analysed included: 21 groups 1573 species Over 18 million records (A) Contains allied species* Shift is significantly different from 0 (one-sample t-test) Interval 1 (1966-1975 and 1986-1995) Interval 2 (1986-1995 and 2001-2010) Interval 1 & Interval 2 Northwards shift 5 5 Future work Our next step is to investigate how rate of distribution shift varies between the two intervals, and what environmental or biotic factors influence rate of distribution change. Read this paper: Mason et al (2015) Geographical range margins of A wide range of taxonomic groups continue to shift polewards (in prep), due to be published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, June 2015 Future work Our next step is to investigate how rate of distribution shift varies between the two intervals, and what environmental or biotic factors influence rate of distribution change. Read this paper: Mason et al (2015) Geographical range margins of A wide range of taxonomic groups continue to shift polewards (in prep), due to be published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, June 2015 7 7