Plants’ ability to adapt to climate change is reduced by half as a result of animal extinction

Plants’ ability to adapt to climate change is reduced by half as a result of animal extinction: Without the help of animals in the ecosystem, plants’ ability to adapt to climate change has been cut in half.

According to a new report from the Natural History Museum (NHM), the loss of large mammals such as wolves and the extinct cattle species aurochs has resulted in plants being far less capable of adapting to changing climates.

This is due to the fact that these animals historically spread them across into suitable areas as climate changed — but this has declined by 95 percent with their extinctions and population declines.

According to the study, the loss of seed-spreading mammals that are endangered or vulnerable has reduced plants’ ability to deal with climate change from 40% to 25%.

According to researchers, the most severe losses have occurred in Europe, the Americas, and Australia, with plants failing to move into new areas quickly enough to survive.

Larger animals would travel longer distances, carrying these plants far enough for them to disperse.

Plants cannot move on their own and must rely on wind, water, and animals to spread their seeds across landscapes.

“When we lose mammals and birds from ecosystems, we don’t just lose species.” Said, Dr Evan Fricke, Lead Author.

“Extinction and habitat loss damage complex ecological networks. This study shows animal declines can disrupt ecological networks in ways that threaten the climate resilience of entire ecosystems that people rely upon.”

Plants’ ability to adapt to climate change is reduced by half as a result of animal extinction