As droughts become more frequent and more prolonged throughout the United States, it may become more difficult for many species to adapt to the changing conditions. Species that already inhabit dry climates, like the endangered giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens), may face plummeting populations due to compounding threats, including extensive loss of habitat. “The degree of increased drought exposure for each species in our analysis strongly depends on future greenhouse gas concentrations,” said Merijn van den Bosch, the lead author of the study. “But even under a lower-concentration scenario, virtually all vertebrates face increased year-long and multi-year droughts in the second half of this century. The implications will depend on the species and the length of the drought.”
Article by The Wildlife Society
