Over 3,500 animal species threatened by climate change

(Patria) - The latest study from the University of Oregon has shown that over 3,500 animal species are threatened by climate change - from corals to birds to humpback whales.

Climate change threatens these species with potentially devastating consequences for ecosystem functioning, scientists warn in a study published in the journal BioScience.

Experts arrived at the endangerment data after studying nearly 71,000 species, but emphasized that the number of endangered species could be much higher, as those considered in their research represent only 5.5 percent of all known categories.

- Until now, the main cause of biodiversity loss has been overexploitation of the environment or habitat alteration, and now climate change is emerging as the third cause - warned research coordinator William Ripple.

Scientists state that it is therefore necessary to more precisely determine the number of endangered animal species in order to create plans for adequate biodiversity and climate crisis policy, reports Ansa agency.

The research showed that marine invertebrates are the most endangered due to their limited ability to move quickly and adapt to unfavorable conditions.

As an example, it was noted that due to rising sea temperatures, the mollusk population along the coasts of Israel has decreased by as much as 90 percent, and that the heatwave in 2021 in the northwestern Pacific killed billions of small organisms, while in 2016, 29 percent of the coral population died in Australia for the same reason.

Many other animals have also felt the consequences of global warming, so in 2015 and 2016, four million birds died of starvation in North America, and 7,000 humpback whales in the North Pacific died due to extreme heat.