What was once known as global warming, how has turned into Climate Change. Though that might not affect us, the same can not be said for animal species around the world. As Climate Change goes on, animals have started dealing with this crisis in their own ways which has put entire species at risk.
As explained by an expert at the University of California Los Angeles. Morgan Tingley, an associate professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The animal has three certain ways of dealing with the extreme change in the climate.
The first would shift to a different region. Which would mean to move from one region to another which suits their preferred temperature. The second would be to change the habits or nature of the animal also known as Phenology. Such as mating and birthing season, hibernation time, and when the migration happens. And lastly, is the species would have to change themself to fit in the changing environment better, by evolution or natural selection.
How animal species are evolving with our ever-changing or ever-worsening world is still under study. More and more research is still emerging and explaining the importance of Climate Change in the role of adaptation. It was said to believe that human activities, such as deforestation and pollution, were the direct cause of habitat loss. But as research goes on, the effect of climate change is also being taken under consideration.
Now here are some animal species that have been directly affected by Climate Change.
Risk of Diseases in Meerkats
Meerkats are an important resident of the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. They play an important role in the ecosystem, as a food source for predators like Jackals and eagles. While they themself consume large amounts of insects infestation. Because Meerkats don’t store fat, they are able to eat large amounts of incests every day.
But as the temperature is on the rise, this is causing the risk of diseases in groups of Meerkats, such as Tuberculosis. Furthermore, this is also the cause of high physiological stress causing the males to shift between the groups. In addition to the high temperature in the desert and less rainfall which has reduced the amount of food available. Meerkats have become less physically active. which has played into waking up late, therefore unable to forage for food.
The significance of spreadable diseases such as Tuberculosis is devastating for the Meerkats, as they are social animals that interact in groups. And with worsening health conditions, these diseases can turn into full-on outbreaks.
Higher Divorces in Albatrosses
Albatrosses are large seabirds native to the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific. Furthermore, they are a monogamous species that refers to ones that mate for life. But as the temperatures warm up, research by the Royal Society Journal shows higher divorce rates in Albatrosses.
Normally the rate of divorces was set to 1% to 3%, which was the result of females looking for a new mate due to an unsuccessful breeding season. But now with warmer seasons, the divorces rate has gone all the way to 8%. As concluded by scientists who have been studying 15,000 Albatross pairs on Falkland island for over 15 years.
This research has been the first of its kind which had supported the effect of changing environmental conditions on socially monogamous animal species. Which will also provide critical insight into other socially monogamous animal species.
Inbreeding due to melting ice
Scientists researching Polar bears in Svalbard, the Norwegian archipelago on the Barents sea. Have found the 10% loss in Genetic Diversity as a result of inbreeding, over a period of 20-years. This concluded in a study which was published by the Royal Society Journals.
The author of the study found the correlation of the decrease in genetic diversity in Polar bears with the melting of Arctic sea ice. This was finding was alarming because inbreeding can cause the inability to give birth to fertile offspring or withstand diseases. With a smaller population, there is a higher chance of inbreeding, which can reduce important genetic traits needed for Polar bears to survive till maturity.
Change in birthing season
As mentioned above, climate can affect the Phenology of an entire animal species. A similar case was found by the researcher at U.K’s Skomer Marine Conservation Zone, who were observing Gray Seals. It was explained that the change in climate can alter the age profile of the population, this was also further explained by a study concluded by the Royal Society Journals.
During the start of the research in 1992, the birthing season for the Gray Seals was pinpointed in October. And 2004, at came three weeks earlier in mid-November. Warmer years were also in relation to the older average age of the mothers. In the case of Gray Seals, they start breeding around the age of 5 years old and can go for several decades after. But the older the seals got, the sooner they gave birth.
These changes were not limited to the U.K, as there have been cases of changes in the Phenology of the seals throughout the world.
The change in Amazonian birds
According to the study presented by Science Daily, the Amazonian birds are changing due to the dryer and hotter climates. That Scientists who have observed these birds for four decades have concluded that 36 species have lost weight and others have lost at least 2% of their body fat since 1980.
This was regarded as the phenomenon where animals shrink as the temperatures raises to become more Thermo-efficient and be able to regulate body heat properly. This is important as the smaller body can dissipate heat more effectively.
While this would be considered as nothing alarming, birds are regarded as Sentinel species. Which are used as an evident warning for dangerous conditions of the environment. The health of the living animal or bird in that region due to the rise in temperature would be alarming.
The world-changing and it is better to be informed of the changes around us. Comment down below and tell us what you think. Share this with your friends and family to keep them informed as well. Hope this has been a bright reading for you.