A new study carried out by researchers from the Universities of York, Leeds and Glasgow revealed that as the planet warms, biodiversity on Earth increases. The study involved analysis of geological and fossil records dating back to 540 million years.
On the other hand, the study shows that the rise in biodiversity relies on new species that evolved over millions of years and is mostly accompanied by the extinction of other existing species. According to the scientists, the present trend of accelerated temperature is not likely to increase global biodiversity, instead, it is expected to destroy it.
This new research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), said that while in the geological past warm periods experienced more extinctions, they also supported the origination of new species by boosting the overall biodiversity. Based on an earlier research that observed biodiversity over the same time period, the new research used improved data to re-asses patterns of marine invertebrate biodiversity in the last 540 million years. It came to a conclusion that a warming climate resulted in reduced diversity.
Dr Peter Mayhew from the Department of Biology at York stated that the improved data provides a more secure image of the effect of warmer climatic characteristic on marine biodiversity and also revealed that there is more origination and extinction in warm geological periods. But, warm climatic conditions seem to increase biodiversity, rather than decreasing it.
Tim Benton from of the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds said that the new research seems to show that warm temperatures improve biodiversity, however, it does not suggest that present global warming is suitable for existing species.
Source: http://www.york.ac.uk/