Insects in the tropics are already near their heat limits. Climate change could push many beyond survival
Why it matters: The survival of up to 90% of animal species is at risk due to climate change pushing tropical insects beyond their heat limits.
- Insects comprise up to 90% of all animal species globally.
- Most insect species are concentrated in the tropics, the regions surrounding the equator.
- Tropical insects are currently operating near their maximum heat tolerance.
- Climate change poses a significant threat by potentially pushing many tropical insect species beyond their survival thresholds.
- Scientific understanding of how these tropical insect species will adapt to rising temperatures is notably scarce.
Tropical insects, which constitute up to 90% of all animal species, are already at their thermal limits, making them highly vulnerable to even slight temperature increases from climate change. Our current understanding of their coping mechanisms for rising global temperatures remains surprisingly limited.
