The Heat Is On For Vulnerable Species

Climate change is driving animals out of their natural ranges. Prof John Wiens has been studying just how bad these ‘local extinctions’ are becoming

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How might species respond to warmer temperatures?

They could stay and change themselves: maybe spend more time in the shade, where their tolerances expand. We call that a ‘niche shift’. Or they can adapt evolutionarily. But my study shows that doesn’t seem to be happening. Instead they’re tracking the suitable climate over space.

How does climate affect a species’ geographic range?

Temperatures get cooler as you move higher in elevation, towards the top of a mountain, or higher in latitude, towards the North or South Pole. Every single species has a sort of elevational range and a latitudinal range. We call the lowest latitudes and elevations the ‘warm edge’ of a range, because they have the highest temperatures. That’s where we expect to see species affected by climate change.

What are ‘local extinctions’?