Global warming said killing some species

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer

Animal and plant species have begun dying off or changing sooner than predicted because of global warming, a review of hundreds of research studies contends.

These fast-moving adaptations come as a surprise even to biologists and ecologists because they are occurring so rapidly.

At least 70 species of frogs, mostly mountain-dwellers that had nowhere to go to escape the creeping heat, have gone extinct because of climate change, the analysis says. It also reports that between 100 and 200 other cold-dependent animal species, such as penguins and polar bears are in deep trouble.

"We are finally seeing species going extinct," said University of Texas biologist Camille Parmesan, author of the study. "Now we've got the evidence. It's here. It's real. This is not just biologists' intuition. It's what's happening."

Her review of 866 scientific studies is summed up in the journal Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics.

Parmesan reports seeing trends of animal populations moving northward if they can, of species adapting slightly because of climate change, of plants blooming earlier, and of an increase in pests and parasites.

Parmesan and others have been predicting such changes for years, but even she was surprised to find evidence that it's already happening; she figured it would be another decade away.

Just five years ago biologists, though not complacent, figured the harmful biological effects of global warming were much farther down the road, said Douglas Futuyma, professor of ecology and evolution at the State University of New York in Stony Brook.

"I feel as though we are staring crisis in the face," Futuyma said. "It's not just down the road somewhere. It is just hurtling toward us. Anyone who is 10 years old right now is going to be facing a very different and frightening world by the time that they are 50 or 60."

While over the past several years studies have shown problems with certain species, animal populations or geographic areas, Parmesan's is the first comprehensive analysis showing the big picture of global-warming induced changes, said Chris Thomas, a professor of conservation biology at the University of York in England.

While it's impossible to prove conclusively that the changes are the result of global warming, the evidence is so strong and other supportable explanations are lacking, Thomas said, so it is "statistically virtually impossible that these are just chance observations."

The most noticeable changes in plants and animals have to do with earlier springs, Parmesan said. The best example can be seen in earlier cherry blossoms and grape harvests and in 65 British bird species that in general are laying their first eggs nearly nine days earlier than 35 years ago.

Parmesan said she worries most about the cold-adapted species, such as emperor penguins that have dropped from 300 breeding pairs to just nine in the western Antarctic Peninsula, or polar bears, which are dropping in numbers and weight in the Arctic.

The cold-dependent species on mountaintops have nowhere to go, which is why two-thirds of a certain grouping of frog species have already gone extinct, Parmesan said.

Populations of animals that adapt better to warmth or can move and live farther north are adapting better than other populations in the same species, Parmesan said.

"We are seeing a lot of evolution now," Parmesan said. However, no new gene mutations have shown themselves, not surprising because that could take millions of years, she said.

___

On the Net:

The Parmesan study on biological changes from global warming:

http://cns.utexas.edu/communications/File/...impacts2006.pdf

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It happened when we came out of the last 4 ice-ages.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It happened when we came out of the last 4 ice-ages.

Your fuzzy science never gets old.

[Alex+R 0]

Now that I've seen LuckyStrike's chart the seventeenth time, I've realized that I prefer it to other charts that actually show the severity of the current climate change, and compare it to those of the past. Nope, this time I've realized, there is no global warming. Steven, what are you on about?

[Jenn! 918]

Hahaha, Parmesan.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Now that I've seen LuckyStrike's chart the seventeenth time, I've realized that I prefer it to other charts that actually show the severity of the current climate change, and compare it to those of the past. Nope, this time I've realized, there is no global warming. Steven, what are you on about?

I was brainwashed by real science.

[Alex+R 0]

I guess we all were...

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It happened when we came out of the last 4 ice-ages.

Your fuzzy science never gets old.

The ice ages did exist. You can't deny that. Or can you? hmmmmm

[Heracles 417]

Nice graph.. I would agree that we might be accelerating this cycle but global warming / freezing is obviously a part of the planets natural cycle..

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Why should the climate stay the same? It never has before. Steven and Alex never attempt to answer that.

I'm actually for a cleaner environment. More nuclear (doesn't generate greenhouse gases), and renewable energy sources are needed. I'm also for lower emission cars and eventually an end to fossil fuels.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It happened when we came out of the last 4 ice-ages.

Your fuzzy science never gets old.

The ice ages did exist. You can't deny that. Or can you? hmmmmm

I promise not to pretend to know brain surgery if you promise not to pretend you fully understand the science behind global warming.

Edited November 21, 2006 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I promise not to pretend to know brain surgery if you promise not to pretend you fully understand the science behind global warming.

I promise

[mawilson 2,133]

Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real.

Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real.

Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real.

Say it enough times and you will believe it.

[Alex+R 0]

Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real.

Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real.

Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real.

Say it enough times and you will believe it.

I think it worked! And also I think we killed a few fairies...

[Ban Hammer 13,633]

Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real.

Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real.

Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real. Global warming is not real.

Say it enough times and you will believe it.

I think it worked! And also I think we killed a few fairies...

i thought you had nothing against gays?