Popular science: Which animals can better resist the impact of climate change

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 21st. The global climate continues to warmer, and the number of extreme weather has increased. Can animals respond to the threat of climate change? A new study on terrestrial mammals found that compared with some animals such as rats and many descendants, animals with long life span and small offspring in the Americas and African elephants are not vulnerable to climate change.

Researchers in Denmark and Norwegian recently introduced in the American Biological Journal "Electronic Life" that they analyzed the population fluctuation data of 157 kinds of terrestrial mammals worldwide in the world, and carried out them with the weather and climate data when collecting animal data when collecting animal data. For comparison, to understand how animals deal with extreme weather.

It was found that when extreme weather came, African elephants, Northeast tigers, chimpanzees, American camels, Grizzlies, American bulls, etc. with long life, and small descendants were less likely to be affected by climate change. Small animals with short life and many descendants have been greatly affected by extreme weather.

Studies believe that large longevity animals can better cope with long -term drought and other conditions, and their ability to survive, reproduce and raise offspring is relatively smaller due to climate change. For example, they can put their energy into a descendant, or wait for a better time to reproduce when conditions are challenging. In contrast, small and short -lived animals may decline sharply due to factors such as foods rapidly. However, when conditions are improved, the number of small mammals with strong reproductive capabilities may rebound quickly.

Researchers specifically pointed out that the ability of animals to resist climate change is not equal to the risk of extinction. When evaluating the risk of extinction of species, factors such as destruction, poaching, pollution, and invasion of habitats need to be considered. Sometimes even surpass climate change.

Researchers say that this study helps people better understand the animals on the earth and how they will cope with continuous climate change, which will help predict what changes will happen because of the entire ecosystem.

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