Alpine wildlife feeling the heat from global warming: study
Pastor Dale Morgan
Alpine wildlife feeling the heat from global warming: study*
FRANKFURT, July 6 (AFP) Jul 06, 2007
Global warming is threatening to wipe out several animal and plant
species in the Alps, according to a study by the World Wide Fund for
Nature released here on Friday.
WWF expert Stegan Ziegler said the effects of global warming manifested
themselves three times more strongly in the Alps than elsewhere.
As a result, freshwater salmon, snapper and other types of fish found
could become extinct in the mountain region, along with snow rabbits,
black grouse and several plant species.
"Holidaymakers are not yet seeing the impact of climate change in the
Alps, but this will change when pine forests start to disappear,"
Ziegler said.
He predicted that certain animals and plant species will disappear from
lower mountain regions as they move to higher, cooler altitudes in a bid
to survive.
The vegetation belt is likely to move 400 to 700 metres (1,300 to 2,300
feet) up the Alps, he said.
"All kinds of fauna and flora that need cooler temperatures will be
competing for living space in an ever shrinking environment in which
they can survive."
Ziegler said humans had to help nature to weather the impact of climate
change by creating protected spaces for wildlife higher up in the Alps
and planting more indigenous vegetation that can withstand warmer
temperatures.