PORTLAND, Ore. — A new study suggests climate change is becoming an “existential crisis” for Earth’s wild animals.
Oregon State University’s William Ripple led the study, released Tuesday, saying that while overexploitation and habitat alteration have been the two major threats to animals on Earth, they expect climate change to become the third major threat.
Researchers found that many species were threatened, and that they come from diverse terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.
Moderate increases in average temperatures are leading to increases in the extreme weather events. The researchers expect some of the threats will become more serious in the coming years.
Ripple said they are concerned about invertebrate animals in the ocean as they absorb the most heat from climate change. These invertebrates face vulnerability as they have limited mobility.
Back 2021, Pacific Northwest saw the heat dome which caused death to billions of intertidal invertebrates.
This is a developing story; updates will be posted, and tune in to KATU News for a full report.