Over the past few years there have been reports of plant and animal species moving northwards (in the Northern Hemisphere), allegedly, in response to rising temperatures.

Unsurprisingly, it is the “monsters” that hit the news. Most recently, the green fanged spider (Segestria florentina), the Australian red backed spider (Latrodectus hasseltii) and the false widow (Steatoda nobilis) have claimed the headlines; as has the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus).

Our son has a considerable knowledge of spiders and has confirmed a number of hinds of S nobilis, including one in his bed.

Among the other northward moving species are the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) and the harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axeridis), which I have been trying, with limited success, to photograph. I was a bit more successful with photographing the western conifer seed bug (Leptoglossus occidentalis) which I found in the house some time ago. Of course, these relatively harmless species are by no means as newsworthy.

It would be interesting to know if anyone else has examples of northward (or southward in the Southern Hemisphere) moving animals and plants.

There appears to be a steady northward migration in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as migration upwards into formerly cooler regions like mountain tops.

http://awarmerplanet.com/2011/11/migration-revisited-poleward-and-upwards/

A UK study shows a trend toward migration northward and upward.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/08...orth-study-says

http://www.livescience.com/3864-global-warming-changing-wild-kingdom.html

Well, it looks like fish will be moving North too. This report in Science Daily Says that tropical fish are moving out of the tropics as the water warms. "Under the best-case scenario, where the Earth warms by one degree Celsius, fish would move 15 kilometres every decade." And of course as more tropical fish move North the fish that are already there will face competition from the new comers. And the Northern fish will face stress from the warmer water. So it isn't just the land plants and animals that will be affected.

Bill Gill

Tropical fish are migrating northward in the Gulf of Mexico and along the eastern seaboard. This has changed the environment from kelp and sea grass to corals, and the types of fish which thrive in coral reefs are coming farther north. Crabs and shellfish which rely on sea grass and kelp to hide in when young are disappearing as the coral becomes established.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/...-ocean-science/

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23...ml#.VDqGX_nF-tM

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/02/12/fish.migration.study/

https://www.usanpn.org/
"Phenology refers to key seasonal changes in plants and animals from year to year – such as flowering, emergence of insects and migration of birds – especially their timing and relationship with weather and climate."

"JOIN US FOR PHENOLOGY WEEK 2014: September 15, 2014"

Oh well, maybe next year; but....

If you search online for “Phenology” or phenology network, you should find many examples for that kind of information.

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