Study: Tropical Species Face Greater Threat From Global Warming

October 10, 2008 8:39 a.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - American scientists who studied tropical species in Costa Rica and the effect of climate change have come to the conclusion that plants and animals in tropical zones face a greater threat compared to those found in polar regions.

According to Robert Colwell from the University of Connecticut, because tropical species already live in areas where the temperature is maximum, hotter climate would result to a decline in their number.

Based on scientists' estimates, a 5.8-degree Fahrenheit (3.2 Celsius) temperature rise over 100 years would result to 53 percent of the 1,902 lowland tropical species becoming subject to slow deterioration.

Colwell added tropical jungles will not totally disappear since species which had adapted to stressful conditions like weeds will still thrive. To alleviate the hotter climate, the species must move to higher locations where the temperature is lower.

The study came out Thursday in the Science journal.