Thread by @weatherindia

#ClimateChange is Making Fishes and Reptiles Age Faster; Cutting Their Lives Shorter: Study

weather.com/en-IN/india/en…

(📸: Adeline Marcos)

The rapidly changing climate is causing #fishes, #reptiles, and #amphibians to age faster while also decreasing their life expectancy, a new study has found.

While alarming, these findings could play a vital role in improving our understanding of how climate change affects the ageing of certain species, which can further be used to devise better conservation plans for these animals.

As per the study, organisms that belong to the category of #ectotherms—animals whose body temperatures change according to the environment—are experiencing heat stress and rise in growth rates.

These #ectothermic animals, which cannot generate heat internally, are being immensely affected by increased global temperatures and heatwaves. The rising temperatures are increasing their body temperatures, causing them to age faster.

#Telomeres provide protection to the coding sequences in the DNA, and every time a cell splits, it can lead to loss or shortening of telomeres. The rate of erosion of telomere is directly proportional to the rate of cell division and the level of oxidative stress.

Due to decreased lifespans, external events like severe flood, drought, or diseases will reduce the species’ recovery capacity. This, in return, may further reduce the availability to these populations to produce enough offspring.

Scientists also noted that the rapid aging of one species can have implications on other species that form a part of its ecological network. For example, fastened aging of ectothermic animals can affect the number of its prey, competitors, parasites, etc.

Species that are already near extinction are under much more threat; as their populations are already very small, reduced life expectancy will only cause more harm.

Hence, better conservation measures must be implemented, and relocating species whose habitats are under risk due to rise in temperature must be seriously considered.