Major ecosystem shift to be expected

Tundra will be afforested and forest will become grassland. These are the types of changes we can expect in nearly 40 per cent of Earth’s land-based ecosystems within the next 100 years, according to a NASA study. The greatest ecosystem shifts are expected at high altitudes and in the temperate region. Not all species will be able to migrate at the speed required, or will be blocked by human activities such as agriculture and urbanisation.

Jon Bergengren, a scientist who led the study said: “The surprising degree of ecological sensitivity of Earth’s ecosystems predicted by our research highlights the global imperative to accelerate progress toward preserving biodiversity by stabilizing Earth’s climate”.

Source : NASA, 14 December 2011
 

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