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Climate change and barnacle distribution

Barnacles are natural barometers and their distribution has been greatly affected by ever changing weather conditions. Professor Richard Fortey investigates the effect that global warming has had on the distribution of warm and cold water barnacles. In the UK a study of barnacles has been ongoing for decades and there has been a distinct increase in the number of the kite-shaped warm water barnacles in the UK. Likewise, there has been a dramatic decrease in the white cold water barnacle. The natural predator for the cold water barnacle is the dog whelk, but if their numbers continue to decrease, what will happen to the dog whelk? Professor Richard Fortey ask the question 鈥淲ill the rock pool animals outlive us?鈥

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