Wildlife in Switzerland is seeking relief from warming temperatures by moving higher up the mountains, reports Tim Radford.

Animals and plants are already today adapting to the rising temperatures at a surprising pace.

Alpine ecosystems are on the rise. Between 2003 and 2010, plants have managed to scramble up another eight metres of mountain slope.

On the way up, they were overtaken by butterflies, which collectively gained another 38 metres of higher ground. Alpine birds in turn fluttered an average of 42 metres higher.