A new study published in PLOS ONE highlights the significant impact of climate change on urban wildlife in the US and Canada. Led by Alessandro Filazzola from the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Centre for Urban Environments, the research indicates that a warming world is prompting many animals to move out of their historical ranges and into new territories.
Using data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and United Nations climate projections, the study examined how different climate scenarios would affect wildlife in 60 major cities. The findings reveal that vertebrates like loons, canids, and amphibians are expected to become less common, while the prevalence of turtles, scorpions, and mice is anticipated to increase.
Filazzola emphasized that the observed changes in species distribution could lead to both challenges and opportunities for urban residents. For instance, Southern Californians are already facing a growing mosquito problem as new species move into the region. Additionally, cities like Atlanta may lose a significant portion of their tree species by the end of the century.
The study predicts that even under the lowest warming scenario, cities can expect considerable turnover in their wildlife populations, with some areas gaining more species than they lose. However, the distribution of species turnover varies across different regions, with cities in the arid Southwest showing lower levels of expected turnover due to their existing resilience to climate changes.
While the study focused solely on climate as a factor, Filazzola acknowledged that other factors such as species interaction could influence outcomes. Nonetheless, the findings underscore the need for further research and proactive measures to address the implications of urban wildlife shifts driven by climate change.
As cities continue to experience changes in their ecological landscapes, residents may need to adapt to new human-wildlife interactions, both positive and negative. The study highlights the importance of understanding and managing these shifts to ensure the resilience and sustainability of urban ecosystems in the face of climate change.
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