9 UK species affected by climate change

1. Basking shark

Meet the largest fish roaming our waters: the elusive basking shark.  

These gentle giants gather on our western coastlines to feed and breed in our plankton-rich seas. But as our climate continues to change, the pattern of ocean currents and plankton distribution could alter.  

If this continues, basking sharks might not be able to get the food they need in our seas and may leave our shores if our oceans continue to warm.   

2. Atlantic salmon

The UK should be a European stronghold for Atlantic salmon, but in 2022 only a quarter of our rivers had healthy salmon populations – a record low. If we don’t act now to protect our rivers, we risk losing these fish from our isles.   

Climate change could make streams and tributaries too warm for salmon eggs to survive. This would worsen the impacts of other threats such as pollution, the over-use of water and disrupted rivers. 

Atlantic salmon are a keystone species, a vital part of the freshwater environment. We need them to keep our river systems healthy. 

3. Oak

Our natural tree species, such as oak, have adapted to changing climate over hundreds of years. Oak trees are known to support over 2,300 other species, making them vital for the woodland environment.

But now the climate is changing beyond its normal limits and our ancient oaks cannot adapt fast enough. They are under pressure like never before, from extreme climate events that bring droughts or flooding, and from new pests and diseases.

The good news is that diverse woodlands, made up of trees that are different species and ages, can act as a giant carbon sponge. Protecting oaks and woodlands will help to protect our climate.

4. Manx shearwater

Seabird species are amongst the worst affected by climate change, including those who rely on UK cliffsides for breeding such as kittiwakes, guillemots and Manx shearwaters. 

We’re lucky to have an estimated 80% of the world’s Manx shearwaters returning to breed in the UK each spring. But because of the changing climate, their food sources are at risk. 

Rising sea temperatures have a lasting effect on the whole food chain. Zooplankton struggle to survive in warmer waters, so prey species like sand eels have less to eat. This means that seabirds have less food, and their population will also eventually fall. 

5. Bee

Many of us have heard about honeybees and bumblebees, but did you know that the UK is home to 270 different species of bees? Each one plays a special role in keeping our meadows, woodlands, heathlands and hedgerows alive.  

To protect these and other insects, we need to protect and restore the varied habitats they rely on. Our grasslands and pockets of vibrant wildflower meadows across the country help keep our bee populations afloat. We need to act now to limit the rise in global temperatures, otherwise climate change could be the final straw for some bee species.  

All bees are vital for the food system and are the primary pollinators for crops in the UK. Without them, our food security is at risk.

6. Capercaillie

The Capercaillie is one of the most recognisable Scottish birds, found exclusively in Caledonian pine forests. Once extinct in the UK, they were successfully brought back in the 1830s. But they face many threats such as hunting and damage to their environment, meaning their numbers are dwindling. 

Climate change alters our weather. Scorching heatwaves, long droughts and devastating storms are becoming more frequent. In Scotland, the spring months are getting more rain. Capercaillie chicks born in a wet June are less likely to survive. This further damages an already fragile population, unless we can combat climate change and restore the Capercaillie’s habitat. 

7. Puffin

Puffins are a much-loved bird, and the UK provides a vital habitat that is essential for them to maintain their populations.  

But the UK population is predicted to nosedive by up to 90% in the next 30 years. Puffins are facing threats to both their nesting sites and their food supply, and climate change is only making things worse. 

Overfishing is severely reducing their food sources, and the fish populations they rely on are moving as seas warm. The combinations of these impacts could be devastating for UK puffin populations.

8. Leatherback turtle

The largest and deepest diving of all seven sea turtle species can occasionally be found in UK waters. Usually associated with tropical waters, they come to the UK to feed on jellyfish before returning to warmer waters to incubate their eggs. 

Leatherbacks are already Critically Endangered and face numerous threats such as plastic pollution, loss of habitat and being caught as bycatch. 

Climate change will affect the areas where this species lays its eggs. Hotter sand temperature will affect the sex ratio of the hatchlings, ultimately impacting the future for leatherback turtles.  

Nests are also put at risk from rising sea levels and an increase in storm frequency – both of which are worsened by climate change.

9. Beaver

Beavers are returning to the UK, with successful reintroduction projects all over the country. As ecosystem engineers, they have a massive impact on the environment.  

Through damming, beavers create wetlands which help clean water by trapping pollutants, as well as easing the impacts of droughts and reducing flooding.   

Beavers can reshape the whole environment, allowing rivers to flow naturally, trees to grow tall and uplands to thrive. Having rich, healthy habitats helps us to unleash nature’s power to mitigate against climate change and adapt to its effects. 

We must protect our freshwater habitats, the place beavers call home, from the impact of climate change. That way, the comeback of these furry engineers can help us secure a stable future.