Is nature fighting back against climate change?

Is there a glimmer of hope for mankind in that the natural world is finding ways to cope with the earth’s rising temperatures?

That’s the question Midlands green energy expert Ron Fox is asking after two recent fascinating nature stories.

Firstly, scientists were worried that the breeding of the migrant Red Admiral butterflies may have been hit by the extreme heat.

But the recent Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count which ended just over a week ago have shown numbers have soared.

The charity counted 170,000 Red Admirals this summer, five times the number last year.

“It just shows how adaptable nature is and can sometimes surprise us with its resilience in a changing world,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park.

Each spring and early summer the butterflies migrate northwards from continental Europe and North Africa to the UK so the females can lay their eggs.

The distinctive species, with a wing span of up to 72mm, feed on common nettles and are often seen on buddleias in gardens.

The Butterfly Conservation, which is a charity devoted to saving butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout the UK, had been concerned that 80 per cent of the butterfly species have declined since the 1970, mainly due to the loss of meadows and climate change.

Butterflies and moths are important indicators of a healthy environment and ecosystem as they are vital for the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other animals.

But they now believe that with the increased frequency of warm weather the UK may become a permanent rather that a temporary summer home for the Red Admirals.

Secondly, scientists were worried by the bleaching of the coral reefs in 1998 and then in 2010 off the coast of the Palau archipelago in Micronesia, 550 miles off the Philippines in the western Pacific.

In 2017 with temperatures reaching the same levels as 1998 and higher experts expected another problem – but it didn’t happen.

The scientists have been studying the reef on this remote island for bleaching for almost 40 years. They believe that this reef has increased its heat tolerance by 0.1C

Coral reefs have long been predicted to be one of the ecosystems most at risk from climate change and warming oceans.

They are important for the environment as they are often called the “rainforests of the sea.” About 25 per cent of the ocean’s fish are dependent on healthy coral reefs for shelter, food, reproduction and for rearing their young in the many nooks and crannies.

“However,” said Ron, “this small change in heat tolerance on the coral reefs may be enough only to delay the effects of climate change in the short term rather than solve the problem long term.

“We need the world’s temperatures to stabilise more and for everyone to reduce their carbon emissions,”

For more information about green energy and cutting your carbon footprint call Ron on 01782 756995.

Picture: Winging its way back – the Red Admiral butterfly whose numbers have soared recently. Picture: Wikipedia