Not all animals flee warming
While marine animals seem to follow expected patterns, the study suggests more research is needed to understand how temperature affects the distribution of land animals. Image: kikkerdirk/iStockphoto A new study published on Monday 28 May 2012 in the journal Nature Climate Change provides insights into why and how species are moving around the globe in response to climate warming.Turning up the heat is opening up areas for animals that were previously too cold, leading to the expansion of species towards the poles. However, in the hottest areas of a species range, marine and terrestrial animals seem to be responding differently.Ocean warming is causing marine species to retreat to cooler water near the poles at both ends of their normal range spectrum. But on land so far, species are staying put at the warm end of their range even though temperatures are rising. A research team from Simon Fraser University in Canada, Deakin...