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Climate change stands as one of the most urgent threats to both humanity and the Earth. While it is not a new phenomenon, the rapid pace at which it is accelerating today is deeply concerning.
Numerous scientific studies highlight how climate change, driven by both natural and human factors, has a devastating impact on animal populations, causing many species to decline. However, there are also studies that suggest certain species are adapting to these changes and, quite unexpectedly, benefiting from them.
10. Cephalopods
While climate change poses a catastrophic threat to many marine species, a particular group of sea creatures, namely cephalopods, is actually benefiting from this shift. Over the past 60 years, the population of cephalopods—cutting across species like squid, octopus, and cuttlefish—has been on the rise.
The discovery of this population increase happened by chance. Zoe Doubleday, a scientist at the University of Adelaide’s Environment Institute in Australia, led a team initially focused on studying the declining numbers of giant Australian cuttlefish in South Australia. After analyzing the catch data from 35 cephalopod species between 1953 and 2013, the team realized that, rather than declining, the cephalopod population was actually growing. Even the giant Australian cuttlefish, once thought to be endangered, was flourishing.
The secret to this success lies in the cephalopods' remarkable adaptability. As the ocean temperatures rise, these creatures adjust their growth rates and the size at which they mature and reproduce. Due to their remarkable flexibility, cephalopods have earned the nickname “the weeds of the sea.”
9. Arctic Mosquitoes
In the last century, temperatures in the Arctic region have risen sharply. According to researchers from Dartmouth College, if this warming trend continues, it could lead to a significant surge in the population of Arctic mosquitoes.
The research team at Dartmouth found that warmer spring temperatures allow Arctic mosquitoes to develop more quickly and emerge sooner. Specifically, for every 1 degree Celsius (1.8 °F) increase in temperature, the time it takes for mosquitoes to transition from larvae to pupae is reduced by as much as 10%. This accelerated development helps the young mosquitoes avoid their primary aquatic predators, the diving beetles, boosting their chances of survival.
While this might be beneficial for Arctic mosquitoes, it spells trouble for caribou, the animals that the mosquitoes feed on. The rising temperatures would synchronize the life cycles of both species, resulting in a “larger, less mobile herd [for the mosquitoes] to feed on.”
8. Pine Beetles
In 2008, Jeffry Mitton and Scott Ferrenberg were conducting a survey of the pine trees at Niwot Ridge in Colorado. While hiking through the forest in mid-June, they came across something unusual—a swarm of adult pine beetles. Mitton, an evolutionary geneticist from the University of Colorado, found this odd because the insects were typically expected to emerge in August or September, not June. He shared his observation with colleagues, but they dismissed his claims.
Along with Ferrenberg, his graduate student at the time, Mitton spent the summers of 2009 and 2010 studying the development of the pine beetles. Over the course of their research, the two discovered something unexpected: while the beetles initially developed as normal, they soon reached maturity at an accelerated rate. By June, the larvae had transformed into adults and emerged from their trees.
What was even more surprising was that the beetles emerging in June would immediately lay their eggs on nearby pine trees. This led to a new generation of pine beetles by August or September.
This discovery is especially noteworthy because pine beetles are known to reproduce only once a year. Mitton and Ferrenberg’s study suggests that climate change is driving this unusual “beetle baby boom.” The rising temperatures are allowing these insects to “produce an additional generation” annually.
7. Starfish
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that starfish benefit from rising temperatures and increased carbon dioxide levels. Unlike other invertebrates like mussels, clams, and bivalves, starfish consume more and grow faster in warmer conditions.
Led by Rebecca Gooding of the University of British Columbia, a research team examined how climate change affects starfish. In their experiment, they placed the creatures in tanks with varying temperatures and carbon dioxide levels that reflected both current and future projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The results showed that starfish in tanks with high carbon dioxide levels grew 67% larger than those in tanks with lower carbon dioxide levels.
Gooding explained that the positive effects of climate change on starfish can be attributed to their unique physical traits. Unlike other marine animals, starfish have less armor, making them better equipped to cope with rising temperatures.
6. Trumpeter Swans
Trumpeter swans were on the brink of extinction in the late 1800s, primarily due to overhunting for their feathers, meat, quills, and down. Fortunately, their numbers are beginning to recover due to hunting bans and conservation efforts aimed at protecting their winter feeding grounds. In recent years, scientists have discovered an additional factor aiding in their comeback—climate change.
A team of researchers from Alaska found that rising temperatures are helping trumpeter swans expand their range, allowing them to inhabit areas farther north that were previously unreachable. This expansion provides the swans with thousands of acres of new breeding grounds that were inaccessible during colder years.
5. Ratsnakes
A study led by Patrick Weatherhead from the University of Illinois suggests that ratsnakes are poised to adapt to climate change and even thrive as a result. Weatherhead reached this conclusion after examining ratsnakes across various latitudes, including Texas, Ontario, and Illinois.
To cope with rising temperatures, ratsnakes are becoming more active at night. Weatherhead believes that climate change will create a thermally favorable environment for these snakes, leading to potential population growth and an expansion of their range.
Additionally, the warmer temperatures may reduce the snakes’ vulnerability to daytime predators. For example, hawks, which typically hunt ratsnakes during the day, will be avoided by the snakes as they become more nocturnal.
4. Brown Argus Butterfly
Climate change has driven certain animal species to relocate to new areas, with varying consequences. While this migration is harmful to many species, the brown argus butterfly has benefited. Over the past two decades, studies show that the brown argus butterfly has “extended its range in England by roughly 50 miles to the north.”
This northern shift has provided the brown argus butterfly with new, abundant food sources, particularly geranium plants. In the 1980s, the brown argus butterfly population was in decline, but climate change has enabled them to flourish in Southern England and extend into the northern parts of the country.
This unexpected discovery was made possible due to the diligent efforts of butterfly enthusiasts who meticulously tracked the populations and movements of these butterflies. The data they collected enabled researchers from the University of York to determine that the shift in range and population was not caused by a mutation, but rather the result of climate change.
3. Cats
You don’t have to venture into the wild to find animals that are thriving due to climate change. Even pets like cats are benefiting from this environmental shift. Over recent years, the population of these playful, furry creatures has surged as global temperatures rise.
While cats traditionally breed in the warm spring months, climate change has shortened and warmed the winters. As a result, their breeding season has lengthened. Now, these curious and mischievous animals enjoy a year-round opportunity to explore and reproduce.
On the surface, this may seem like a positive development, but it comes with a concerning downside: The rapidly growing cat population has resulted in more feral, stray, and domesticated cats being surrendered to shelters across the nation. From 2005 to 2006, the national adoption organization Pets Across America reported a staggering 30% increase in cat and kitten intakes. To help combat this issue, experts have recommended spaying and neutering.
2. Wild Boars
In recent years, the wild boar population in Germany has surged. By 2009, their numbers surpassed two million. But it’s not just Germany; other European countries, including the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria, have also seen their wild boar populations skyrocket. In fact, parts of the Americas and Asia are witnessing similar trends.
“Wild boars are the clear winners of climate change.” Instead of suffering, these resilient creatures are flourishing in an increasingly warmer world.
There are two primary reasons why climate change has supported the growth of wild boar populations: Firstly, rising temperatures have led to milder winters. This shift in winter conditions allows both older boars and younger ones born near the start of winter to survive more easily. Secondly, increased sunlight, resulting from higher carbon dioxide levels, boosts tree production of energy-rich fruits like acorns and chestnuts. The abundance of food has been linked to higher rates of wild boar reproduction.
1. Long-Tailed Tits
The long-tailed tit, the smallest bird in the UK by body size, gets its name from its disproportionately long tail feathers. Over the past 40 years, climate change has contributed to the population of these tiny birds more than doubling in size.
Historically, scientists have believed that the survival of long-tailed tits depended on winter weather conditions. It was thought that cold and wet weather posed a threat to these small birds, as food became scarce, and they needed to use more energy to stay warm. However, a 19-year study conducted by researchers at the University of Sheffield has revealed that spring conditions play a much larger role in the survival of long-tailed tits.
When spring weather is cold and wet, long-tailed tits face great difficulty in raising their chicks. Poor spring conditions make eggs and chicks more susceptible to diseases like colds and reduce the availability of food. As a result, adult birds are often exhausted by the end of the breeding season, and their survival rate decreases significantly.
On the other hand, if spring is warmer, raising their young becomes significantly easier for long-tailed tits. By conserving energy during the breeding season, they are “better able to cope” with the harsher autumn and winter weather that follows later in the year.
