In the Southern United States, where Spring already begins much earlier that the northern sections, the shift will be less severe.

Andrew Allstadt, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an author on the paper talked about the results in a statement, saying,  “Our projections show that winter will be shorter—which sounds great for those of us in Wisconsin.  But long distance migratory birds, for example, time their migration based on day length in their winter range. They may arrive in their breeding ground to find that the plant resources that they require are already gone.”

A great deal more research on this matter will need to be done to determine the overall harm that an early spring may have on wildlife in the affected areas, and the future long-term influences it could possibly have on food production.

The researchers think some species will be able to adapt to the changes, but unfortunately, many may not be able to change their feeding and breeding habits quickly enough to perpetuate the line.  What consequences this may have on those animals that depend on those species for food, or on the plants that depend on those species for pollination or seed distribution remains to be studied.

The findings of the research was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.