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No chameleons in Norway or arctic foxes in Kenya. The place where different species of animals and plants live has a lot to do with climate, but, although temperature is one of the main causes of the relationships we observe between the geographical distribution of biodiversity and climate, it is not The only one.
An international research group, led by doctoral student Nikki Moore from McGill University (Canada), has just published an article in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution which sheds light on the complex relationship between temperature and species distribution patterns. The research offers new insights into the thermal sensitivity of several species of ectothermic animals (whose body temperature depends on external sources of heat) in marine and terrestrial environments, challenging previous theories about the impact of temperature on species' distribution ranges.
With growing concerns about climate change, the fate of Earth's biodiversity is the subject of constant study. As global temperatures rise, species face new and often unpredictable living conditions, so understanding how different organisms respond to these changes is essential for conservation efforts and for predicting future shifts in biodiversity.
The research, which has included the participation of scientists from the University of Alcalá and the Rey Juan Carlos University, is the result of a collaborative effort between researchers from Canada, Mexico, Portugal, Denmark, Australia, South Africa and Spain. Specifically, it explores the role of temperature in shaping the geographic distribution ranges of species.
The study focuses on 460 species of ectothermic animals, comparing their current habitats with the areas where they could potentially live based on their physiological tolerance to temperature. One of the most surprising findings of the research is that, unlike species that reside in the ocean, land-dwelling organisms, such as reptiles, amphibians and insects, show ranges that are less directly affected by temperature. 'Our results exhibit an intriguing pattern in terrestrial species: the higher the latitude they inhabit, the less likely it is to find them in tropical regions, even when their physiology would be able to tolerate the warmer temperatures of those regions,' says Nikki Moore.
These results challenge the conventional belief that extreme temperatures are the main determinant of species distribution on land. Instead, this new research suggests that other factors, such as interactions with other species – for example, competition or parasitism – are relevant to understanding why some species in terrestrial environments are not able to occupy all of their potential climatic habitats. in tropical regions.
The study also helps reconcile two previously conflicting hypotheses about the distribution of life on Earth. While species ranges have long been believed to be limited more by interspecies interactions than by temperature in tropical regions, this research indicates that higher latitude species face increasing exclusion from their tolerable ranges in the tropics. tropics. This supports the idea of a trade-off between broad thermal tolerance and biological effectiveness in tropical environments.
Ignacio Morales-Castilla and Miguel Á. Olalla-Tárraga, professors at the University of Alcalá and the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid and coordinators of the international consortium that produced this study, highlight the importance of these findings. 'This research expands our understanding of how temperature affects species distribution. Temperature matters, but not in the same way for all species. While the species that we find in the tropics are more linked to temperature, in temperate and cold zones we find species that are more limited by their interactions with other species,' highlights Morales-Castilla. 'Understanding the complex interaction between several factors, such as temperature and competition, prepares us to better predict how climate change will alter the global distribution of species,' adds Olalla-Tárraga.
These findings have broad implications for conservation and ecology, providing a deeper understanding of how different species of cold-blooded animals may respond to changes in temperature. As global warming continues to impact ecosystems around the world, this knowledge is critical to making informed decisions about species conservation and management.