Climate change driving species to the Earth's poles faster than predicted, scientists say


Warming temperatures are pushing land and sea creatures closer to the north and south poles and to cooler altitudes at rates faster than first predicted, scientists say.

Scientists from 40 countries are gathering in Hobart for a four-day conference about how climate change is forcing species to move, including humans.

Professor Camille Parmesan from Plymouth University in the UK said around the world animals and plants were moving towards the Earth's poles, and it is happening faster than scientists had originally predicted.

"For the species that we have really good data on where they've lived historically over the past 100 years, we're seeing about half of those have actually moved where they live, which is an astonishing number given we've only had one degree centigrade warming," she said.

The East Australian Current has moved 350 kilometres further south in the past 60 years.

Tasmania's east coast is a global hotspot for marine species that are moving south.

One of them is the long-spined sea urchin.

Associate Professor Gretta Pecl from the University of Tasmania's Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies said the species was becoming a pest.


more :

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-09/climate-change-driving-species-to-the-pole...