Many mammals unable to relocate
As previous studies have shown, many animal populations have shifted as a result of climate change. But not all species have habitats available for relocation.
A new survey of climatethreatened mammals in Europe suggested nearly half — 30 of the 62 mammal species — are without the traits necessary to adapt to and colonize new types of habitats, according to UPI.
The group hemmed in by a rapidly warming climate includes wolverines, Eurasian elk, Iberian wild goats and Pyrenean chamois.
Regan Early, a researcher at the University of Exeter’s Center for Ecology and Conservation, said, “Some species that will need to move long distances due to climate change are simply not going to be able to.
“Unfortunately, many of the species most at risk from climate change will also have the most dif¿culty in colonizing new areas.”
Scientists focused on two keys to relocation: Whether or not a species is a generalist, and a species’ reproductive strategy.
Mammals that are generalists, capable of living in a wide variety of habitats and taking advantage of a wide variety of food resources, are more likely to be able to adapt to and colonize new territory.
Mammal species that breed young and produce more offspring are also more likely to successfully relocate.
But even mammals capable of adapting to new habitats could be out of luck. For some, a suitable habitat is simply too far away from their current location.
Models suggest the Western Mediterranean mouse’s current home in Spain and Portugal is likely to become inhospitable as a result of climate change.
The mouse would be better off in eastern Italy, simulations show. But such a migration would be near impossible for the small rodent.
Researchers published their ¿ndings in the journal Diversity and Distributions.
Researcher Lisbeth Morrison said, “If you look at the challenges of shifting ranges, you ¿nd that many species are a lot more threatened by climate change than we previously understood.
“Even under lower estimates of climate change, we found really serious effects for many species.”