Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator): vulnerability to climate change
Evidence for exposure
Potential changes in breeding habitat suitability:
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Current breeding area that is likely to become less suitable (92% of current range)
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Current breeding area that is likely to remain suitable (7%)
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Current breeding area that is likely to become more suitable (1%)
Current impacts to Red-breasted Mergansers attributed to climate change:
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No impacts have been documented for this species in Europe
Predicted changes in key prey species:
No key prey species are predicted to decline for this species.
Sensitivity
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Red-breasted mergansers have low lying nests, which are vulnerable to flooding. Sea level rise or increased wave action from storms could impact breeding populations.
Adaptive capacity
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Red-breasted mergansers are capable of establishing or re-establishing colonies if conditions are suitable. Breeding range seems to be slowly expanding south in western Europe.
