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How climate change affects antelopes and other wildlife in southern Africa

How climate change affects antelopes and other wildlife in southern Africa

The climate crisis is turning the temperature up all over the world, but in southern Africa, the rise has been particularly concerning. According to a recent study, the region has experienced a 1.5°C increase in average temperature since 1901, which is twice the global average.

This poses a serious threat to the wildlife that lives there, especially antelopes, which are sensitive to heat stress. Antelopes are important herbivores that help maintain the balance of ecosystems and provide food for predators and humans.

Researchers from the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria have investigated how antelopes under threat from the climate crisis have responded to rising temperatures. They analyzed data from 15 species of antelopes across 48 protected areas in southern Africa, covering a period of 40 years.

They found that antelopes have adapted to the warming climate in different ways, depending on their body size, diet and habitat. Some have shifted their ranges to cooler areas, such as higher altitudes or latitudes. Others have changed their behavior, such as resting more during the day and feeding more at night. And some have altered their physiology, such as growing thinner coats or increasing their body surface area to lose heat.

However, these adaptations may not be enough to cope with the projected future warming, which could reach 4°C by 2100 under a high-emission scenario. The researchers warn that antelopes and other wildlife may face severe population declines or even local extinctions if the climate crisis is not mitigated.

They call for more conservation efforts to protect the habitats and corridors of antelopes and other wildlife, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable land use. They also urge more research to monitor the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services in southern Africa.

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