Relics of a warm era, some species may be suited to a warmer climate

Some species may be better able to withstand climate change than previously thought. That’s because these species have changed little since the last warm period on Earth.

By the end of this century, the planet is expected to be as hot as it was 130,000 years ago. The species that emerged at this time would be able to withstand a warmer climate. This is particularly relevant in the tropics, where heat reaches new extremes.

Warming will decrease the variety of plants and animals that reside in tropical lands, but by how much? Previous research suggests that these areas will see, on average, a 54% drop in the number of resident species. But a new modeling to studypublished in Ecology and Evolution of Natureputs that number at 39 percent.

The study offers hope for some tropical species facing a warmer future, although the results are, the researchers note, only a marginal improvement over previous estimates. The study also does not take into account other threats to wildlife, such as pollution, overhunting or loss of wildlife. And for species in cold or even temperate climates, the new research offers little comfort, the authors warn.

“These species already live at the edge of their climatic niche and will not be able to tolerate significantly higher temperatures,” said study co-author Olivier Broennimann, from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. “That’s a sure thing.”

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