"As climate change transforms their habitat, some animals are already on the move. But a new analysis from the University of Washington warns that many species won't be able to run fast enough to survive a warming world."
"On average, about 9 percent of the Western Hemisphere's mammals migrate too slowly to keep pace with the rapid climate shifts expected over the next century, says the study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In some areas, including parts of the Appalachian Mountains and the Amazon basin, nearly 40 percent of mammals may be unable to reach safe haven in time.
'It's another warning sign that the climate is changing, and that not all plants and animals are going to be able to deal with it,' said co-author Joshua Lawler, associate professor of environmental and forest science at the UW."
Sandi Doughton reports for the Seattle Times May 15, 2012.
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