Global Warming  

Global warming (climate change) is significantly affecting all life on this planet. An increasing human population continues to place pressure on our planetary reserves whilst burning of fossil fuels and removal of pristine rainforest is increasing average global temperatures. Even small increases in temperature over such a short period of time can be catastrophic to many species and natural ecological processes. Species in sensitive alpine and polar areas are also under serious threat and need our help to ensure the survival of their habitats.

The Kea Conservation Trust is concerned about climate change and supports any efforts to reduce our combined human impact on the planet.

We recommend our readers visit http://www.climatecrisis.net/ to view the DVD An Inconvenient Truth (by Al Gore) and to learn ways in which everyone can reduce their carbon emissions.

We also recommend reading the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) documents at http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/index.htm.

A summary of their findings as described in section 6.1 of the Climate Change 2007 Report are as follows:

6.1 Observed changes in climate and their effects, and their causes

Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global

average sea level. {WGI 3.9, SPM}

Many natural systems, on all continents and in some oceans, are being affected by regional climate changes. Observed changes in many physical and biological systems are consistent with warming.

As a result of the uptake of anthropogenic CO2 since 1750, the acidity of the surface ocean has increased. {WGI 5.4, WGII 1.3}. Global total annual anthropogenic GHG emissions, weighted by their 100-year GWPs, have grown by 70% between 1970 and 2004. As a result of anthropogenic emissions, atmospheric concentrations of N2O now far exceed pre-industrial values spanning many thousands of years, and those of CH4 and CO2 now far exceed the natural range over the last 650,000 years. {WGI SPM; WGIII 1.3}

Most of the global average warming over the past 50 years is very likely due to anthropogenic GHG increases and it is likely that there is a discernible human-induced warming averaged over each

continent (except Antarctica). {WGI 9.4, SPM}

Anthropogenic warming over the last three decades has likely had a discernible influence at the global scale on observed changes in many physical and biological systems. {WGII 1.4, SPM}

For more details of this report please visit http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/assessments-reports.htm

Global warming effects on Kea and their environment

Global warming issues have direct and serious ramifications for alpine systems and therefore on kea. Alpine species are specifically adapted for harsh extremes and although kea are a highly adaptable species, we know very little about how changes in temperature will effect their reproductive biology, behaviour or interactions with humans long-term. Inital information from the Atlas Bird distribution data (due to be published in August), suggests that kea distribution has declined. Anacdotal information supports this and also suggests that kea have moved into areas not usually visited in numbers. Research into distribution trends and reasons for any changes is therefore extremely important to ascertain the kea population structure and stability.

Global warming and spread of infectious diseases

Worldwide, exposure of native species to exotic diseases, is causing decimation of wild populations who have little or no immunity to fight off such infections.

New Zealands flora and fauna, isolated for millions of years, are highly vulnerable to potentially dangerous organisms entering undetected through New Zealand borders.

For the Kea and our other parrot species (Kakapo and the closely related Kaka spp.) this is a real threat.

Beak and Feather Disease

For information on research into Beak and Feather disease in our wild population, please read the abstract below (for the full article click on the link underneath).

The prevalence of beak and feather disease virus infection in wild populations of parrots and cockatoos in New Zealand

AIM: To determine the prevalence of beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) infection in exotic parrots and cockatoos in the wild in New Zealand.

Platycercus eximius, n=162) were caught from Te Puke, Wellington and Dunedin, using mistnets, between April 2004 and February 2006, and sulphur crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita, n=255) were captured for pet-trading from November 2001 to September 2004. Feathers from both species were tested for BFDV, using an established polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Post-mortem examinations were conducted on some of the eastern rosellas, and selected tissues from 24 birds positive for BFDV were examined using routine histological methods for the presence of characteristic inclusion bodies.

Climate Change and Movement of Introduced Pest Species