Now, effects of changing climate on sheep can be mathematically predicted
May 31st, 2009 - 12:35 pm ICT by ANIWashington, May 31 (ANI): In a new research, it has been proven that the effects of a changing climate on a population of bighorn sheep can be mathematically predicted.
Researchers from Germany, the US, and Mexico studied a population of bighorn sheep introduced to Tiburon island, Mexico, in 1975.
Here, the sheep are not at risk from disease or predators, and climate change is the only variable threat to the animals.
In this new study, the researchers predicted the effect of climate change on the sheep population using a mathematical simulation.
The sheep appear to be vulnerable to increased drought in the area, which is a side-effect of global climate change.
More severe drought will eventually lead to a decrease in the sheep population.
Being able to predict the effect of climate change before it happens is of great importance to the conservation of endangered species.
Brook and Traill point out that their calculations can be adapted to other species, in other regions.
“The work is therefore an important contribution towards the continued conservation of small populations under global change,” they said. (ANI)
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Tags: animals, bighorn sheep, changing climate, climate change, drought, endangered species, germany, global change, global climate, island mexico, mathematical simulation, populations, predators, risk, sheep population, tiburon island