Climate warming could make bacterial and fungal infections potentially fatal for cold-blooded animals resembling corals, insects and fish, a latest UBC study suggests, threatening ecosystems and biodiversity and potentially This raises questions on the broader risks of warming temperatures to humans.
Cold blood in a hot world
Drs Kayla King and Jingdi (Judy) Li synthesized 60 experimental studies on cold-blooded animals with bacterial, fungal and other infections, noting that cold-blooded animals are directly affected by temperature and subsequently global warming. could also be particularly sensitive to the results of
The studies covered 50 species, including terrestrial insects, fish, molluscs and corals — among the most biodiverse and most threatened ecosystems.
Using statistical models, the researchers found that cold-blooded animals with bacterial infections were more more likely to die when exposed to higher temperatures than of their normal environmental conditions.
Fungal sweet spots
The evaluation showed that animals infected with fungal pathogens felt the results of warmth in a certain range of temperatures. They didn't die off more often because the temperature rose — until the temperature moved toward the fungi's ideal range, often known as the “thermal optimum.” At that point, infected animals were more more likely to die. However, when the temperature became too high for the fungus to survive, mortality in infected animals decreased.
What does it mean?
“These findings suggest that climate warming may pose a greater threat to cold-blooded animals, which are an important part of the ecosystem,” Dr Lee said. He added that more research is required on how rising temperatures affect warm-blooded animals, including humans.
Dr. King noted that the findings offer insights to assist predict threats to animal populations in a warming, disease-prone world.