1. Results The graph on the right shows that many different taxa have made significant mean shifts northwards: however, there was variation within and between different taxa. The numbers in brackets () indicate the number of species in each group, which varied between intervals. Results The graph on the right shows that many different taxa have made significant mean shifts northwards: however, there was variation within and between different taxa. The numbers in brackets () indicate the number of species in each group, which varied between intervals. 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 taxa were selected using UK recording scheme data, held at the Biological Records Centre in Oxfordshire, UK. Response variable: Northern range margin shift. 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 taxa were selected using UK recording scheme data, held at the Biological Records Centre in Oxfordshire, UK. Response variable: Northern range margin shift. WHY is data on range shifts of multiple taxa important for ecology, conservation and policy? BECAUSE how species respond to environmental change will impact how we can protect them. I am a third year NERC-funded PhD candidate studying the impacts of climate on biogeographical changes across a wide range of taxa Contact me: sazmas@ceh.ac.uksazmas@ceh.ac.uk @SuzannaCMason Suzanna Mason 1,2, Georgina Palmer 2, Simon Gillings 3, Jane Hill 2, Chris Thomas 2, Richard Fox 4, Tom Oliver 5 British taxa shift their geographical range margins northwards in response to environmental change Conclusions This work shows that British species are shifting their northern range margins at variable rates, showing heterogeneity within and between taxonomic groups. 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 vary between species. Conclusions This work shows that British species are shifting their northern range margins at variable rates, showing heterogeneity within and between taxonomic groups. 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 vary between species. Northern Range Margin Shift We calculated range shift as the change in species' northern range margin over an interval. Species' northern range margin was calculated as the mean latitude of the 10 most northerly occupied 10km squares. Northern Range Margin Shift We calculated range shift as the change in species' northern range margin over an interval. Species' northern range margin was 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. Very little is known about how different taxa respond to these factors, and how responses vary within and between taxa. Before these biogeographical responses can be explained, first they must be described. Introduction Problem : British species are changing their distributions as the environment is altered by climate change, agriculture, pollution and urbanisation. Very little is known about how different taxa respond to these factors, and how responses vary within and between taxa. Before these biogeographical responses can be explained, first they must be described. 1 1 Why is this research important? If we are to protect species as the climate and environment changes......then we need to understand variation in species’ biogeographical responses to these changes Why is this research important? If we are to protect species as the climate and environment changes......then we need to understand variation in species’ biogeographical responses to these changes 2 2 6 6 1 2 3 4 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 (Thymelicus sylvestris), pictured right The three maps below show the distributions and northern range margins, in each time period, of the small skipper butterfly (Thymelicus sylvestris), pictured right In total, the data analysed included: 21 taxa 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 what environmental or biotic factors influence rate of northern range margin shift. Read this Open Access paper: Mason et al. (2015) Geographical range margins of many taxa continue to shift polewards Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 115, 3, 586–597 Future work Our next step is to investigate what environmental or biotic factors influence rate of northern range margin shift. Read this Open Access paper: Mason et al. (2015) Geographical range margins of many taxa continue to shift polewards Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 115, 3, 586–597 7 7 5