It’s a well-known scientific fact that a human& Itâ€
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Fear is a big part of what makes an ecosystem tick. But add a little heat to the equation, and good healthy fear gets a lot less good and healthy, according to a new study by Professor Geoff Trussell at Northeastern University College of Science.
The study focused on Nucella Lapillus, a marine snail that makes up the middle of the food chain. These middle species have to balance their need to feed with that fear of being food. Animals that think there is something out there that would very much like to eat them, especially the more delicious animals — they take fewer chances and stay close to home (which I think we can all agree, is understandable — if I hail a cab, for instance, and there is already a bear in that cab, I will probably decide to stay where I am).
How will climate change affect the balance? When Trussell turned up the heat, the already stressed snails began to wither and lose weight, despite eating the same amount of food.
Angela Herring at news@Northeastern has more:
“You’ve got these aniÂmals that are already burning a lot of energy because they’re worÂried about getÂting eaten,” Trussell explained. “And then you throw on top of that the stress that’s imposed by temÂperÂaÂture increases and evenÂtuÂally what you end up seeing is that the aniÂmals struggle to make a living.”
The comÂbined effects of preÂdaÂtion risk and warming seem to create even bigger chalÂlenges for these middle species, which Trussell believes are inteÂgral to the overall health of an ecosystem. The results, he said, sugÂgest that the impacts of cliÂmate change may be most sigÂnifÂiÂcant in areas where the fear of being eaten is parÂticÂuÂlarly imporÂtant to comÂmuÂnity dynamics.
“Very rarely are species out there in isoÂlaÂtion just dealing with temÂperÂaÂture and its potenÂtial increases. They’re interÂacting with other species as well and all the chalÂlenges that they present, Trussell said. “So looking at how cliÂmate is impacting these interÂacting species is what we really need to do if we’re going to underÂstand the ecoÂlogÂical conÂseÂquences of cliÂmate change.”
The implications for conservation could be huge. A warmer ecosystem may still be able to support the same volume of creatures at the bottom of the food chain, but those on the next rung up will decline due to the double whammy of heat and horror, starting a domino effect on up the line.
Scary.