Predictions of temperature rise as a consequence of global warming vary greatly, from 0.5° C to 2.5° C by 2030 (Schneider & Rosenberg, 1989). With such uncertainty there is limited benefit in trying to predict detailed outcomes, but two possible effects may be briefly considered. Firstly, the direct effect of a rise in sea temperature may change the geographic distribution of species. Secondly, any changes in sea level will affect the environment of CFT communities. In preceding sections the influence of environmental factors, and the regional nature of many species and biotope distributions, have both been emphasised.

Global warming can be expected to affect the geographical range of species reaching their northern or southern limits within the British Isles. Southern species with limited ranges in the south west such as Eunicella verrusosa (App. 4, Fig 14a) and Balanophyllia regia (App. 4, Fig 15b) may be expected to extend their ranges. Conversely northern species like Swiftia pallida (App. 4, Fig 14c) and Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis (App. 4, Fig 16d) may retreat. Examples of such temperature-mediated distribution changes have been described for intertidal species following long-term intensive monitoring - the studies on the barnacles Chthamalus and Semibalanus in the south-west of Britain provide the clearest example (Southward, 1967, 1991). It will require similarly detailed monitoring to reveal such changes subtidally, but it is necessary to recognise such naturally mediated changes as being distinct from anthropogenic impacts.

Estimates of sea level changes, as a result of global warming, are equally highly variable. They range from 0.5m to 3.5m over the next hundred years (Boorman et al., 1989), though most estimates are near the low end of this range (Houghton et al., 1990). Such changes might have a marginal effect on the position of the infralittoral/circalittoral boundary, but major direct effects on the CFT biotopes, which cover a substantial depth range, would not be expected even from the higher estimates. Indirect effects are more likely, where changes to the coastal environment may promote rapid erosion with increased levels of turbidity and siltation.

Next Section                      References