

Franco Folini/CC BY-SA 2.0

A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that at minimum 9% of animals in the Western Hemisphere, and up to 40% in some places, will be unable to migrate quickly enough to suitable habitat as the planet warms.

Primates in the region will be particular hard hit—with on average primates losing 75% of available habitat— as well as much smaller animals such as shrews and moles. However, coyotes, wolves, deer, caribou, armadillos and anteaters all may well be able to migrate quickly enough to survive.

In determining how well animals will be able to react the scientists just looked at the effect of climate change, not other factors such as competition with other species, or man-made obstacles.

Report lead author Carrie Schloss:


Tags: Global Climate Change | Global Warming Effects


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