As the global climate continues to warm and extreme weather increases, can animals cope with the threats posed by climate change? A new study of terrestrial mammals finds that long-lived animals with few offspring, such as llamas and African elephants, are less vulnerable to clim

The global climate continues to warm and extreme weather is increasing. Can animals cope with the threats posed by climate change? A new study of terrestrial mammals finds that animals with long lifespans and few offspring, such as llamas and African elephants, are less vulnerable to climate change than some animals with short lifespans and many offspring, such as mice. .

Danish and Norwegian researchers recently introduced in the American biology journal "Electronic Life" that they analyzed at least 10 years of population fluctuation data for 157 species of terrestrial mammals around the world and compared them with the weather when the animal data were collected. Comparisons were made with climate data to understand how animals respond to extreme weather.

The results found that when extreme weather strikes, animals with long lifespans and few offspring, such as African elephants, Siberian tigers, chimpanzees, llamas, grizzly bears, American bison, are less susceptible to the effects of climate change, while some mice, Arctic fox, Arctic ground squirrel and other small animals with short life spans and many offspring are greatly affected by extreme weather.

Research believes that large, long-lived animals can better cope with conditions such as long-term drought, and their ability to survive, reproduce and raise offspring is relatively less affected by climate change. For example, they can invest their energy into one offspring or wait for a better time to reproduce when conditions are challenging. In contrast, small, short-lived animals may experience sharp population declines due to factors such as rapid food loss under extreme conditions such as prolonged drought. However, when conditions improve, populations of these highly fertile small mammals may rebound quickly.

Researchers specifically pointed out that the ability of animals to withstand climate change does not equal the risk of extinction. When assessing the risk of species extinction, factors such as habitat destruction, poaching, pollution, and invasive species also need to be taken into account. These factors have a greater impact on species extinction. The impact is sometimes even greater than climate change.

Researchers say the study helps people better understand how Earth's animals are and will respond to ongoing climate change, and can help predict how entire ecosystems will change as a result.

reproduced from People's Daily Online Popular Science China