Fly population set to double with global warming

A leading biological scientist from the University of Southampton is warning of massive increases in the UK’s fly population if temperatures continue to rise.

Experts predict average temperatures will increase by three degrees or more within the next few years, if global warming continues across the planet. Dr Dave Goulson from the University’s School of Biological Sciences says this could mean the fly population growing by 97 per cent. He bases his predictions on work done at a landfill site where there had been problems with flies. Dr Goulson recommended that site operators cover the rubbish with layers of soil to bury the maggots.

He also embarked on long term research monitoring fly numbers and relating them to weather conditions and temperatures. Then, he used the comprehensive data in a computer model to suggest what would happen with increases in temperature. ‘Flies are annoying but they also carry many human diseases.’ said Dr Goulson, ‘We need to have plans in place to cope with any large increase in the fly population.’

Matt's from Southampton University I think, any views on this?

[rizzo]

Originally Posted by adi

Experts predict average temperatures will increase by three degrees or more within the next few years, if global warming continues across the planet. Dr Dave Goulson from the University’s School of Biological Sciences says this could mean the fly population growing by 97 per cent. He bases his predictions on work done at a landfill site where there had been problems with flies. Dr Goulson recommended that site operators cover the rubbish with layers of soil to bury the maggots.

You would think the esteemed Dr. Ghoul would be smart enough to understand that the source of the maggots is the organic material in the landfull, and that a much more effective solution would be to prohibit organics in the landfill, and to force people to compost their organics at home, sort their trash, and recycle.

[MarkuisMellvile]

A good point Rizzo, but Dr Ghoul is just emphasising the law (Environmental Act 1995 and European Landfill Directives before it) in that operators must (under the terms of their licence) cover the refuse with layers of aggregate (usually soil) frequently, to prevent vermin populations accessing it, or the site causing nuisance to its neighbours.

We should all be sorting and recycling the vast majority of our household rubbish, but this would still not stop flies laying eggs on rubbish sites. Traces of organic material in non-recyclable polymer containers would still provide a food supply to the annoying little buzzers!

[reality]

The estemed Dr Ghoul is an environmental wacko with a global warming agenda. To these people, anything can be seen as "out of the ordinary", and anything out of ordinary MUST be due to global warming. A doom & gloomer to the hilt. Only a global warming nut would see covering garbage to reduce flies as a detterant to global warming-induced high fly populations and not simply reducing fly populations by reducing abvailable food sources.