I think some of the lower plant species (fens, moss, etc...) can use as indicator species, but more infomations are not available for prove that idea.
Insects (both pests and pollinators) can be used as indicators of climate change. Due to warming there is increased incidents of pest (beetles) outbreaks in forests
1. Phenological phase shift in tree species such as Rhododendrons.
2. Invasion of alien herbaceous species and insects
Plants as indicators for the earths climate is to slow to help man avoid disaster, Plants are only opportunistic, with seeds and other forms of replication only being successful if the conditions are already right for them to occur, They are a reflection of the poor state of sciences attempts to monitor the climate and earths environmental conditions, we must monitor a lot more in local national and global ways, to help preempt the problems rather than waiting until the event has occurred .
I firmly believe there are all manner of phenological indicators that one could use. My latest blog post was an entry from another website that showed probable evidence of Butterflies being used as suitable indicators, rather than birds. To my mind, it would be difficult to pick a specific group of flora or fauna but the world's leaders need to take heed of all the research that is being undertaken on this very subject. If anyone is interested, I run a phenology based blog in the UK and have been tracking a whole variety of events over the years. You are all welcome to view it at http://naturestimeline.wordpress.com
Kind Regards
Tony Powell
It could be certain trees which are vulnerable to climate change, for instance,I personally realized a decrease in the number of apple trees due to an increase in temperature in temperate regions.
Yes, birds are good indicators of climate changes. The poleward and altitudinal shifts of birds observed these days are good examples.
Plant communities on high altitudes (mountain peaks) are very suitable for long-term monitoring. See for instance the GLORIA network: http://www.gloria.ac.at/?a=2
amphibians can also be used as indicators since they are highly susceptible to small changes in the immediate environment. This is because amphibians have dual life (water and land), multiplying the effects of climate change on them and they have a very thin skin that can be highly damaged with little increase in sun light radiation.
Hi, I'm not an expert about this problem. But I can say the amphibians and short mammals in savannas of Colombia are most affected on climate change. The habitats for these groups have been decreasing, now I can see less members in some groups.
Some years ago we worked (in the framework of a project on plants and climate change in Spain) with a population of the rare and endangered fern Culcita macrocarpa, a relict species from Tertiary times. Culcita is very local in the Canary Islands, where it occupies only some good preserved (but mostly secondary) and humid laurel forests in the Anaga mountains. This species seems to be a good indicator of climate change, as it depends on a high degree of humidity and the formation of clouds and mist in its habitat. So a change in the frequency of mist and degree of humidity can reduce its populations.
Examples of climate change indicator species: Prairie plants, native bees, amphibians, migratory birds, mammals, and fish etc. in temperate areas
Comments: Prairie plants showed a change in first flowering times, native bees in the USA were found to arrive ten days earlier, amphibians found shifted their reproductive timing , migratory birds found to arrive earlier and fish such as pink salmon fry in Alaska migrated earlier.
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