Exacerbated by global warming, climate change is considered by many authorities to pose a very real threat to numerous forms of wildlife. Indeed, some scientists have anticipated that perhaps a quarter of all species could face extinction as early as 2050 because of it. In order to fully understand the consequences for wild populations, however, it is also important to consider the extent to which they


can adapt. But how rapidly do


changes occur in successive generations of wildlife, and how are they manifested? Patrik Karell, a post-doctoral researcher


working in the department of Environmental and Marine Biology at Åbo Akademi University, Finland, is striving to answer some of these important questions. To study different aspects of evolutionary mechanisms, he has undertaken several projects, partly funded by the Academy of Finland, which survey tawny owl populations. “The tawny owl is a fascinating


“The tawny owl is a fascinating model species, this is because of its highly heritable plumage colour, which varies quite distinctly between individuals”


model species,” says Karell. “This is because of


its highly heritable plumage which varies quite colour, distinctly between


individuals. Such variation is known as ‘polymorphism’, because these birds, although of the same species, can exist in several different


forms, or ‘morphs’. A


central objective of my work has been to study the evolution and maintenance of these differences.” Whilst prudently exploiting long-term data series on individual tawny owls dating


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