19/06/2008 05:48:00
Scottish National Heritage (SNH) has launched the Snowbed Project, an attempt to discover how climate change is affecting fauna and flora traditionally native to Scottish mountains.
Through the scheme, 'corries' - large, hollow depressions found on mountainsides - will become lookout points for official observers.
Sites to be surveyed will be established in the Cairngorms and on Aonach Moor near Fort William, as well as in Ben Dearg, Wester Ross, Ben Alder and Ben Wyvis in the Highlands.
The project will explore the effects of less snowfall and warmer temperatures on selected plants, including moss and liverwort, and their impact on certain species of birds, particularly the arctic snow bunting.
The research will be based on valuable work undertaken by scientist and mountaineer Gordon Rothero, who began his studies of the area nearly 20 years ago.
According to the BBC, Mr. Rothero said: "Comparison of the photographs I took of various snowbed sites in 1989 with those taken during this project last summer show clear changes in the pattern of vegetation."
The SNH currently estimates that Scotland is home to 2470 acres of snowbed habitat. Dr David Genney, from SNH, commented: "... these areas of Scotland could be said to have more in common with the mountains of Scandinavia, the high arctic of Spitzbergen and parts of Greenland than they do with the Carse of Stirling for example."
The Highlands attract thousands of visitors every year, so preserving its biodiversity for future Scots and travellers is a priority for the Scottish Government.
Scottish National Heritage is based in Inverness. In addition to SNH, the University of Bergen in Norway and the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh are also involved in the research.