Earlier spring 'caused by climate change'

Climate change is responsible for the earlier arrival of spring each year, according to a study published today.

Scientists from 17 countries reviewed 125,000 reports involving 561 species for the Europe-wide study.

They concluded that the season was beginning between six to eight days earlier than 30 years ago, when average temperatures on the continent were cooler.

Countries which experienced the greatest increases in temperatures, such as Spain, saw the earliest spring seasons.

Those behind the study, which focused on the timing of natural events such as when plants flowered and fruits formed, said it was the largest report of its kind ever conducted.

One of the report's main authors, Tim Sparks, of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, said the work was "conclusive".

He told the BBC that it showed a direct link between rising annual temperatures and changes to plant and animal behaviour.

He said: "We need to look at change over very large areas and we need to examine as many species groups as possible because there has been some mild criticism that people have cherry-picked the results they presented.

"We have gone for the most complete coverage possible that we could in Europe to try and see if there was still this effect. It is very conclusive that there is."

Scientists fear that the changes to plant growing cycles could affect complex food chains in nature and harm some dependent animals.

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