Climate Change

[Jonathan Sylvestre]

Roger,

You said that : "Whilst climate change is something that most creatures can probably adapt to". I agree that most animals and plants can adapt to (some better thant other), "they did it" many times in the past. The difference now is that the changes are too fast. For exemple, if the temperature continue to increase at a such rate, a given boreal forest will become in a climate where tulip trees can grows, no real winter, no snow, etc... perhaps, the succession will not follow this change (soil formation, etc..). As far as I know, the numerous climates changes in the past were on long periods so that each ecosystem had the time to adapt or migrate. When the climate changed too fast in the past, we find massive extinction evidence.

Perhaps, I agree that the climate change is not the major problem of the rest of life on earth. Most of animals and plants will be extinct when the climate change will be "effective".

Jonathan

PS: Sorry for my english, im working on it.

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Roger C. KENDRICK 
  To: LEPS-L at lists.yale.edu 
  Sent: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 10:09 PM
  Subject: Re: Climate Change


  JP,

  well commented.

  Whilst climate change is something that most creatures can probably adapt to (on the news yesterday there was evidence that polar bears survived the last major interglacial period, with mean global temperatures over 6 deg. C higher than now and much higher sea levels), habitat destruction is still going to be the primary cause of most species extinction. All the talk and focus is now on climate change, which is only a symptom of the way humanity abuses and destroys the rest of life on earth for its own very short sighted gain. In the media's eye, habitat destruction is not the big issue it ought to be. :(

  Roger.


  Roger C. KENDRICK Ph.D. 
  Senior Conservation Officer, Fauna Conservation, 
  Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden, Hong Kong 
  http://www.kfbg.org/ 

  C & R Wildlife (sole proprietor), Tai Po, Hong Kong 
  hkmoths at yahoo.co.uk 

  Hong Kong Moths - http://asia.geocities.com/hkmoths/ 

  discussion groups 
  - http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Hkmoths/ 
  - http://www.hkwildlife.net 
  - http://www.hkls-forum.org/
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