Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20Many changes to the natural environment are already being observed in Ontario. These changes may affect the biodiversity on your property as well as both ecosystem and human health. Some examples of observed changes in nature include: 1. The northern range boundaries of warm and coolwater sportfishes in Ontario lakes are shifting northward. Over the past 30 years fish have moved northward at a rate of 12 to 17 km per decade in Ontario.5 Brown bullhead, bluegill and largemouth bass showed the largest northward shifts, each more than one-half degree of latitude. These species are shifting at rates comparable with other aquatic and terrestrial species around the globe. 2. Ice cover declines on all Great Lakes are affecting biodiversity in coastal wetlands and nearshore habitat, reducing ice fishing opportunities and rendering shorelines more susceptible to extreme storm events in winter. Between 1970 and 2013, mean maximum ice cover declined most on Lake Superior (42%), followed by lakes Ontario (32%), Erie (25%), Michigan (21%) and Huron (19%).6 3. Smallmouth bass (shown at left) spawning time in eastern Ontario populations have advanced on average by 2 days per decade since the 1960s as a result of changing ice-out and spring water temperatures. The opening day of bass fishing season has been changed in some areas to protect nesting fish and young until the young disperse from spawning sites.7 Climate change is being observed in nature 5. Alofs,K.M.,D.A.Jackson and N.P.Lester.2014.Ontario Freshwater fishes demonstrate differing range-boundary shifts in a warming climate.Diversity and Distributions.20: 1-14. 6. Ontario Biodiversity Council.2015.State of Ontario’s Biodiversity.http://ontariobiodiversitycouncil.ca/sobr 7. M.S.Ridgeway,personal communication. 06 Andy Metelka