Warming Temperatures in Temperate Zones Contributing to More Extinctions
In a surprising shift, the impact of climate change is being felt more acutely in temperate regions than in the tropics. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona has revealed that these regions are experiencing faster warming, leading to a higher rate of species extinction.
Over 5,000 plant and animal species across the globe were analyzed in the study. The findings indicate that 49% of species in temperate areas have faced climate-related extinctions, compared to 33% in tropical regions. This research challenges the previously held belief that tropical species were more vulnerable to climate change.
John Wiens, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, explained, “So people thought that tropical species would be more sensitive to climate change. And part of what we find is just that there’s much more climate, there’s been much more climate change, much more warming in the temperate zone, and that just seems to wipe out any other effect.”
Another researcher from the University of Arizona, Gopal Murali, highlighted the misconception about the geographical impact of climate change. He stated, “The general view is that it’s happening somewhere in the remote place, something like in the rainforest in the tropical region and so on. But then what we found is that it’s also becoming a global crisis.”
The study discovered that the maximum temperature increase in temperate zones reached 6 degrees Fahrenheit, nearly double the increase observed in tropical regions. This dramatic rise in temperature underscores the urgent need for attention to the effects of climate change beyond the tropics.
For more details, you can access the full study here.
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