Global change

Llyn Brianne produced some of the world’s first data on the effects of large-scale climate change on stream ecosystems.

Changes in stability, the composition of stream communities and local extinctions have all been linked with global climate change.

Projects

Drought and salmonids

The influence of drought on trout and salmon in Welsh rivers

Ifan Jams started his PhD in 2013 to investigate drought, a likely impact of climate change. Our upland stream mesocosms were manipulated into drought conditions to investigate the impact on stream invertebrates. These organisms are important food sources for young trout and salmon.

EU MARS

Managing aquatic ecosystems and water resources under multiple stress

MARS is a €9 million EU-funded project investigating how multiple stressors affect rivers, lakes and estuaries. Previously, rivers and lakes were impacted by strong, single stressors such as organic pollution or acidification. These were replaced by a complex mix of stressors resulting from urban and agricultural land use, water power generation and climate change.

BICCO-Net

The biodiversity impacts of climate change observation network

BICCO-Net was a comprehensive assessment of the impact of climate change on UK biodiversity, completed in 2015. It was a collaborative project led by the British Trust for Ornithology.

PRINCE

Preparing for climate change impacts on freshwater ecosystems

PRINCE was commissioned by the Environment Agency, English Nature and the Countryside Council for Wales. It was completed in 2007.