Last week during the height of the Canadian winter weather, I took a trip to the Toronto Zoo. Expecting only to find animals known for thriving in cold climates in the outdoor exhibits, I was shocked to find African hyenas and giraffes trudging through the snow in temperatures of -10 degrees Celsius.
These animals are clearly highly adaptable to changing climates, so who’s to say that other species couldn’t sustain throughout global warming? The history of evolution demonstrates that all species have a knack for adapting to their changing environments.
These African zoo animals developed thicker, winter coats. Others overtime have developed camouflage and defense mechanisms to protect them from predators. As recently as this week, more information surfaced about how vertebrate mammals evolved from water to land dwelling.
The process of evolution makes some question whether we’re underestimating species adaptability, myself included.
Experts have suggested that to remain with their ecosystems, land animals will need to migrate about a quarter mile every year. This would continue to give them access to their food sources and maintain their place in the environment.
But what would happen if the world’s species stayed in place while their ecosystem changed around them? Would they thrive, or would they perish? The effects of climate change are of course negative, but historical and current evidence suggest either could happen.
http://www.globalpost.com/notebook/global-green/100111/could-species-evolve-adapt-climate-change