Global warming has caused an increase in temperatures of about 34.3°F compared to the end of the 19th century, a seemingly modest change but with devastating effects on nature and terrestrial ecosystems.
This warming has triggered surprising adaptations in some species, but has also pushed many others towards extinction.
Fauna adaptations to climate change
Many animals are trying to adapt to the changing climatic conditions.
Some bird species have undergone a reduction in body size, while lizards, insects, and snails have changed their colors to improve thermoregulation or better camouflage in new environments.
Even some wild goats have adopted more nocturnal behaviors to avoid the intense heat of the daytime hours. However, these strategies are not sufficient for many other species, which struggle to keep up with the rapid pace of change. Extreme climate-related events, such as wildfires, have devastated natural habitats, contributing to the decline of animal populations.
Emblematic examples are the fires that have affected Australia and the Amazon, destroying biodiversity on a large scale.
Extinctions caused by global warming
Climate change is leading to the extinction of entire species. A symbolic case is that of the Australian rodent Melomys rubicola, declared extinct due to rising sea levels that submerged its habitat.
In other parts of the world, such as Hawaii, global warming has allowed disease-carrying mosquitoes to colonize higher altitudes, contributing to the death of several endemic bird species.
The study on future risks to biodiversity
A recent study published in Science analyzed the impact of global warming on thousands of species, exploring how different warming scenarios could affect the risk of extinction.
The study examined 485 previous researches, calculating the percentage of plant and animal species at risk of extinction under climate scenarios ranging from the current level of warming to the goals of the Paris Agreement, up to hypotheses of uncontrolled emissions.
The results are alarming: if global warming continues at the current pace, insufficient climate policies could lead to the extinction of half a million species.
This data underscores the need for immediate action to limit greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming.
Most vulnerable species and habitats
Not all species and ecosystems are affected in the same way. Amphibians, such as frogs, are among the most at risk due to their dependence on water and low mobility.
Fragile ecosystems such as mountains, islands, and freshwater areas are particularly vulnerable to climate changes.
Animals inhabiting these habitats often have no possibility of moving to more suitable areas.
Mountain ecosystems, for example, see a progressive shift of species to higher altitudes, but the habitable space drastically reduces with increasing altitude.
On islands, rising sea levels pose a direct threat to flora and fauna, while freshwater basins are affected by drought and changes in water quality.
What’s at stake: the planet’s biodiversity
The data emerging from the research is not only a warning about the severity of the current situation but also raises urgent questions about the future of biodiversity.
The impacts of global warming are set to amplify if swift action is not taken to reduce emissions and safeguard the most fragile ecosystems. Projections clearly indicate that the fate of thousands of species depends on the climate policies implemented today. Limiting the temperature increase to 34.7°F, the main goal of the Paris Agreement, could drastically reduce the number of extinctions, protecting terrestrial ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
Follow our feed
