An increase in the temperature of Scotland’s seas over the last decade has been found to be changing the types of animals and plants found on rocky shores in Scotland to those that favour warmer waters, according to a NatureScot study published today.

The report investigated changes in over 50 species at 167 locations around Scotland’s coasts over the last decade. The study found clear evidence of warming in rocky shore communities. The shift towards warm-water species was shown by an increase of 0.14 degrees Celsius in the average temperature preference of the community, at the same time as a small increase in average sea temperature around Scotland of 0.20 degrees Celsius was recorded. While these temperature rises may seem small, they translate into significant changes in the natural world, highlighting that climate change is already having an effect on Scotland’s rocky coasts.

The report revealed that some warm-water species are flourishing, such as the purple topshell, particularly on the west coast of the country. Cold-water species, on the other hand, are experiencing mixed fortunes with some, such as beanweed, declining, while others, including cold-water barnacles, increasing in number. Overall, however, the modest temperature increase has already resulted in a small shift in dominance towards warm water species.