To escape the heat, the Pika will move to higher altitudes, but could easily become extinct if its new habitat does not cater to its specific requirements.
Credit: iStockPhoto
ESSEX: Animals are responding to global warming by migrating to higher altitudes and away from the equator at much faster rates than previously thought.
A new study has revealed that the distances being travelled by a pool of 2000 species including birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, spiders, other invertebrates and plants from North America and Europe are greatest in areas with the highest levels of warming. According to the researchers, this indicates that climate change is having a profound effect on the behaviour of a large proportion of species in this area.
The findings could be used to provide a model for predicting species migration in the future, in an effort to prevent further loss of biodiversity.
"These changes are equivalent to animals and plants shifting away from the equator at around 20 cm per hour, for every hour of the day, for every day of the year. This has been going on for the last 40 years and is set to continue for at least the rest of this century," said lead author and conservation biologist Chris Thomas from the University of York in Britain, of the study published in the current issue of Science.
2000 species included
In 2003, a similar analysis was published in the journal Nature, concluding that species shifted only 6.1 m to higher altitudes and 6.1 km toward higher latitudes per decade.
But instead of measuring individual species' movements, the new analysis, which was based on data from a number of previous papers, studied the average movements of whole taxonomic groups. One of the greatest shifts observed was that of the comma butterfly. This particular species travelled 220 km northwards, from central England to Edinburgh in just two decades.
The findings indicated that many species were travelling further, faster and higher. The team also assessed how far the species would be expected to travel if they followed the temperature gradient at that time. Their predictions indicated a statistical link between temperature and species migration.
Worrying or reassuring?
There are a number of factors that can influence the geographical distribution of an individual species and ascertaining whether the overriding factor is an increase in temperature is difficult. Some species did not follow the trend, by either retreating or moving far slower than expected, but the overall trend was clear, said the researchers.
Ecosystems are often infinitely complex and inter-species interactions are essential for survival. If one species disappears, this could set off a chain reaction, which is why understanding the extent of species migration in times of changing climates can be crucial.
Terry Root, professor of biology at Stanford University in California, commented, "Seeing that species are able to keep up with the warming is a very positive finding". According to Root, travelling does not appear to be the current issue - most animals will keep moving toward the poles despite having to overcome obstacles such as cities, agricultural land and highways. The difficulties occur for species travelling to higher elevations.
"For example, the pika, related to rabbits, must live in cool locations on mountains and it must have large boulders to live among," he said. To escape the heat, pika will move to higher altitudes. However, if the habitat at this level does not cater to the pika's specific requirements, "the species could easily become extinct".
Disco Scienceo of climate blame
As long as the countless thousands of consensus climate change scientists are vastly outnumbering the climate change protesters in the streets and as long as they are not marching with us and acting like it’s the crisis they say it is, the court of reality declares the CO2 affair a tragic exploitation and exaggeration that needlessly condemned billions to catastrophic end.
Meanwhile, the UN had allowed carbon trading stock markets run by corporations and politicians to trump 3rd world fresh water relief, starvation rescue and 3rd world education for just over 25 years of climate CONTROL instead of the obviously needed POPULATION control. This wasn’t about a climate change; it was about controlling a changing climate with taxes and sacrifice and we former believers promise you that history will call this a dark age for environmentalism. The end REALLY IS near, but not for the planet, but rather the entire climate change movement and criminal charges "will" come as a result. Politicians love to lay blame.
Brilliant article, expertly
Brilliant article, expertly executed, informative-more please?