An international team of scientists has established that climate change became the most serious threat to the endangered species included in the list of US SPECIES (ESE).
This represents a moment of turning in the scientific understanding of the factors that affect the biodiversity.
According to Oxu.AZ, the study was published in Bioscience magazine.
The research targeted 2,766 species of animals and plants threatened with disappearance on the US and in its overseas territories. The result is shocking: 91% of these species are already affected by climatic changes.
Scientists have analyzed the influence of five main anthropic factors that threaten biodiversity: climate change, transformation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, excessive exploitation of species, pollution and invasive species. It was found that the vast majority – 86% of species – are facing several threats simultaneously. The most vulnerable have proven to be corals, Bivalve molluscs and amphibians.
According to the authors of the study, the climatic changes were previously underestimated as a risk factor for endangered species. However, the new climate sensitivity data show that their impact is comparable to that of habitat changes – until now considered the main factor.
The researchers point out that the official documents of the ESA could significantly underestimate the proportion of the species affected by the climate change and propose that the climatic risks be directly included in the processes of evaluation and protection of the species.
