-
Climate change threatens more than a million species with extinction.
-
However, some animals are more resilient to temperature changes and could thrive in a warming world.
-
Not all of these animals are ones you would like to see more often. Some are also carriers of deadly diseases.
In the game of climate change there are winners and losers.
Experts predict that a third of the Earth’s plants and animals — millions of species — could be gone by 2050 if current rates of greenhouse gas emissions continue. And some are already disappearing.
But other animals are more resilient to temperature changes and environmental disruptions. There are a few species that could not only survive, but thrive in a warming world.
Climate models have shown that “we have many species that can actually benefit from climate change,” expanding their ranges into new geographic areas that were previously inhospitable to them, Giovanni Strona, a quantitative ecology researcher at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, told Business Insider.
Many of these climate change “winners” are hardy, fast-breeding scavengers that already live in some of the most degraded habitats on Earth: cities. They’re not all cute and cuddly, and some are considered pests that pose a risk to human health.
Like them or not, it doesn’t look like these four critters are going away anytime soon.
Cockroaches probably don’t need to worry about food shortages
Cockroaches are a city dweller’s worst enemy. These indestructible insects can inhabit every corner of their urban environment, from the muck of subway tunnels to skyscrapers.
And once they’ve taken hold, they’re extremely difficult to get rid of. That’s because the humble cockroach has evolved into one of the most resilient animals on the planet.
These ancient arthropods have been around for over 300 million years and have survived every challenge they have faced. They even survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, which wiped out 80% of animal life on Earth.
What didn’t kill them only made them stronger. Cockroaches have survived periods of extreme environmental change, including significant climate change. They prefer warm, humid conditions and can survive temperatures of up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Furthermore, cockroaches can go a month without food and a week without water. When it comes to what they eat, they are not picky, which means they probably don’t have to worry about climate change eliminating their food source.
These traits and their long history of survival lead scientists to believe that cockroaches will thrive in a warmer world, and may even outlive humans.
Rats can probably evolve to cope with whatever climate change throws their way
Like cockroaches, rats will eat almost anything and can live almost anywhere, but the real source of their resilience is their adaptability.
Rats reproduce in large numbers. They breed year-round, producing about six litters per year. The average litter size is eight to 18 young, so that’s up to 108 rats per year from one female.
Because rats reproduce so quickly, they evolve faster than many other mammals, adapting more quickly and effectively to changes in their environment or climate.
Furthermore, there is strength in numbers. When rats have lots of young, they can maintain large populations. So when challenges arise, there is a greater chance that at least a few individuals will survive.
Research has shown that rising global temperatures are only making it easier for rats to breed. Because as winters get warmer, fewer rats die from the cold, leaving more rats to breed year-round.
We are already seeing their numbers increase worldwide. The rat population in New York City has increased by nearly a million in the past decade, M&M Pest Control estimated in 2023.
If climate change causes a “ratpocalypse,” as some research suggests, it could have major implications for human health.
Rats can transmit diseases that are dangerous to humans, such as hantavirus, leptospirosis and salmonella. If they thrive in a warming world, that means these diseases can do the same.
Mosquitoes may grow faster in a warming world
Mosquitoes are not only annoying, they are also a major cause of disease around the world.
These tiny bloodsuckers can carry a whole host of viruses and parasites, including malaria, dengue, Zika and more. When transmitted to humans, these diseases can be fatal. More than a million people worldwide die each year from mosquito-borne diseases.
Mosquito-borne diseases are most common in Africa and tropical areas of Southeast Asia and South America. That’s because mosquitoes thrive in warm, wet climates.
But as climate change raises temperatures and alters precipitation trends, their range is expanding and shifting into new geographic areas. For example, a disease-carrying mosquito species from South America emerged in Florida in 2021.
Additionally, studies have shown that higher temperatures can accelerate the growth of mosquitoes, the speed at which they bite, and the likelihood of diseases being spread in mosquitoes.
This means that climate change could cause mosquito-borne diseases to spread to new places and increase the number of cases worldwide. There are indications that we are already seeing this happening.
In 2023, Florida and Texas saw their first cases of locally transmitted malaria in 20 years. And in Europe, dengue outbreaks rose significantly in 2022, largely driven by heat waves and flooding.
So we can expect mosquitoes to continue to circulate for a long time if warming continues.
Ticks remain active all year round now that winters are milder
Make way for mosquitoes, there’s another blood-sucking insect taking over our warming world.
Ticks thrive in warm, humid climates. They typically remain dormant during the winter, but as the season becomes milder, they remain active year-round. They also emerge earlier and feed longer throughout the year.
Additionally, warmer temperatures are expanding into areas where the disease was previously rare, including northeastern states like Vermont.
This is bad news for human health, because just like mosquitoes, ticks transmit dangerous diseases. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis are just a few examples of tick-borne diseases. All three can become serious if left untreated.
In the U.S., Lyme disease cases have nearly doubled since 1991, with the Northeast seeing the biggest increase in cases. Studies suggest that climate change has contributed significantly to this increase. And another 2023 study found that ticks are more resilient to extreme temperatures than scientists previously thought.
All of this suggests that ticks are coping well with climate change and will likely persist as long as temperatures continue to rise.
If you live in an area where ticks are prevalent, it’s a good idea to take preventative measures all year round. And that goes for your pets, too. But you should be extra vigilant from April through September, when ticks are most active.
Read the original article on Business Insider