The Climate Question - BBC World Service Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Host: Sophie Eastall
• Guest: Nima Amos, Safari Guide in Tanzania
• Focus: Impact of climate change on animal migrations, particularly in Tanzania and Kenya.

Great Migration Overview

• Great Migration: Involves millions of wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles in East Africa.
• Location: Movement from Serengeti (Tanzania) to Masai Mara (Kenya) based on food and water availability.

Characteristics of Migration

• Experience: The sight of thousands of wildebeests running is described as magical.
• Predators: Lions, leopards, and hyenas thrive during the migration because wildebeests are a primary food source.
• Noise: The migration creates significant noise, making it hard for nearby guests to sleep.

Climate Change Effects on Migration

• Birthing Patterns: Climate change is causing confusion in birthing cycles of wildebeests due to unpredictable rains.
• Rainfall Impact: Increased and unexpected rains scattered wildebeests, disrupting their usual birthing locations.
• Migration Numbers: Declining numbers of wildebeests reaching Masai Mara; from over a million in the 70s/80s to about 250,000 now.

Environmental Changes

• Drought Frequency: Increased intensity and frequency of droughts affecting migrations.
• Temperature Increase: Average minimum temperature rose from 7°C in the 1960s to 11°C now.
• Water Availability: Drier conditions lead to reduced water sources, pushing wildebeests closer to human settlements, increasing poaching risks.
• Poaching Statistics: Approximately 100,000 wildebeests are poached annually.

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health

• Role of Wildebeests: Essential for shaping the ecosystem; overgrazing and loss of habitat occur if their migration patterns change.
• Human Settlements: Increased human activity and fencing restrict wildebeests' movement.
• Ecological Importance: Wildebeests contribute significantly to the ecosystem's balance and economic health of national parks.

Expert Insight: Joseph Ogutu

• Senior statistician analyzing wildlife data in the ecosystem.
• Emphasizes the interconnectedness of the Serengeti-Masai Mara ecosystem.
• Outlines the challenges faced due to climate change and human expansion.

Shark Migration and Climate Change

• Shark Movement: Sharks migrate for food and suitable breeding conditions, e.g., lemon sharks returning to birth areas.
• Distance: Sharks can travel vast distances (e.g., great whites moving from Australia to South Africa).
• Temperature Changes: Rising ocean temperatures alter migration patterns; sharks now migrate to cooler waters.

Ecological Relationships

• Impact of Sharks: Sharks regulate prey populations like sea turtles; their absence leads to ecological imbalance.
• Seagrass Meadows: Healthy shark populations contribute significantly to carbon storage and ecosystem stability.

Conclusion

• Importance of Protection: Biodiversity and animal migrations are crucial for combating climate change.
• Call to Action: Emphasizes the need for global awareness and conservation efforts for both land and ocean migratory species.

Key Takeaways

• Climate change is profoundly affecting migratory patterns of both land and marine animals.
• Protecting these species is vital for maintaining ecological balance and aiding in climate change mitigation.
• There is a need for increased awareness and proactive measures to ensure the survival of these migrations.