GLOBAL warming may spell doom for mankind, but North-East researchers say it is good news for one species.

Timid grey seals are taking advantage of rising temperatures and reduced rainfall to mate more often.

Normally, the shy members of a group miss out on the action because females prefer dominant males

But the heating of the planet is forcing females to travel farther for drinking water, removing them from the watchful eyes of their dominant mates.

Durham university lecturer Dr Sean Twiss made the discovery after he studied the mating patterns of a grey seal colony on the remote Scottish island of North Rona.

He said: "Grey seals are typically polygamous, with the more dominant males mating with approximately 10 to 15 females, which they guard from other males within their territory.

"These males' ability to dominate is easy when rainwater pools are abundant and females cluster in a small geographical area. But during dry seasons, the area in which the females are located becomes too big and they can no longer successfully keep an eye on them all.

"The females must travel farther to access water before returning to nurse their pups, which remain at the original pupping location.

"The increased movement amongst the females allows the weaker males to mate and results in more males contributing genetically to the next generation."

During the nine-year study, Dr Twiss and his colleagues recorded a 61 per cent rise in the number of males contributing to the genetic pool.

In the UK, grey seals gather on remote islands for 18 days during October and November for mating.

The autumnal breeding season would normally be wet and windy, but between 1996 and 2004, researchers recorded unusually dry starts to some seasons. The findings fit predictions by climatologists, who say climate change will make rainfall more irregular.