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Weather Seen as Threat to Iberian Lynx Climate Change Seen as Threat to Iberian Lynx
(about 3 hours later)
After 20 years and more than $100 million spent, the effort to save the endangered Iberian lynx is at risk because it fails to factor in the effects of climate change, scientists say.After 20 years and more than $100 million spent, the effort to save the endangered Iberian lynx is at risk because it fails to factor in the effects of climate change, scientists say.
The lynx is a spotted, yellow-eyed feline from Southern Europe that has long faced a dwindling food supply. Its preferred prey, the European rabbit, suffers from disease and over-hunting. Now only 250 lynx remain, mostly in Spain, and conservationists have focused on relocating them to more rabbit-rich habitats in the country.The lynx is a spotted, yellow-eyed feline from Southern Europe that has long faced a dwindling food supply. Its preferred prey, the European rabbit, suffers from disease and over-hunting. Now only 250 lynx remain, mostly in Spain, and conservationists have focused on relocating them to more rabbit-rich habitats in the country.
But warming temperatures and drier conditions could drive the European rabbit out of many of those habitats within 50 years, an international team of scientists reports in the journal Nature Climate Change. The team used ecological models that incorporated climate data to forecast coming shifts in rabbit population patterns.But warming temperatures and drier conditions could drive the European rabbit out of many of those habitats within 50 years, an international team of scientists reports in the journal Nature Climate Change. The team used ecological models that incorporated climate data to forecast coming shifts in rabbit population patterns.
To save the lynx, the scientists say, conservationists should focus on relocating them to higher ground where the European rabbit will be less affected by changes in climate.To save the lynx, the scientists say, conservationists should focus on relocating them to higher ground where the European rabbit will be less affected by changes in climate.
Asked about the findings, Miguel Simon, director of the Iberlince Life Project, a lynx preservation group, said it was still possible that rabbits would benefit from warmer conditions, since they prefer arid, dry climates. But he added that the focus should be on curbing the greenhouse gases that are driving global warming. “What you need to fix are CO2 emissions,” he said.Asked about the findings, Miguel Simon, director of the Iberlince Life Project, a lynx preservation group, said it was still possible that rabbits would benefit from warmer conditions, since they prefer arid, dry climates. But he added that the focus should be on curbing the greenhouse gases that are driving global warming. “What you need to fix are CO2 emissions,” he said.
DOUGLAS QUENQUA