With rise in global warning their will be many preys to climate change. One such is the Arctic char, a relic of the Ice Age which thrives in cooler waters of deep water of Windermere, Lough Melvin in Ireland and a few Scottish lochs.
Warmer winters have meant less snow melting into the lake to lower temperatures and there has, in most years, been more summer sunshine.The surface water temperature of the largest natural lake in England have risen by between 1 and 2ºC over the past 70 years, according to the Freshwater Biological Association which is based on the lake.
The declining numbers are also a victim to eutrophication, the enrichment of water by nutrients from sewage and agricultural run-off and competition for food from shoals of roach.
Dr Roger Sweeting of the Association, is quoted to have said:
The Artic char in Windermere are at the southern limits of their range and prefer cooler temperatures as they need a lot of oxygen. When things get warmer, they don’t like it.
Over the next 25 years water temperatures might be expected to rise by between 2 and 4ºC because of global warming
Windermere is 10.5 miles long and 200 ft deep in places, it is entirely within the Lake District National Park. It has been one of the country’s most popular places for holidays and summer homes since 1847, when the Kendal and Windermere Railway built a branch line to it.
Image 1: Windermere and Waterhead, from Loughrigg, Photo by Ann Bowker
Image credit 2
Source: The Telegraph
