Mutually Dependent Species Have Increased Risk of Extinction in the Face of Climate Change

Previous studies regarding the conservation status of many species have only taken into account species in isolation. However, if we were to include how these species interact in an ecological network, then some of their statuses might be taken up a notch and could be at risk of extinction.

With forecasts on the effects of climate change shifting constantly, there is a greater chance that several species would experience this 'domino effect' of extinction within the next 50 years. It makes sense seeing how all species are, in one way or another, interdependent with one another for resources.

First author Jordi Bascompte, a professor in the evolutionary biology and environmental studies department at the University of Zurich, gives a specific example to illustrate the results of the study: “In one of the networks situated in southern Spain, the sage-leaved rock rose has a 52 percent predicted probability of extinction caused by climate change in 2080.

Should this happen, one of its pollinators, the small carpenter bee, would face a risk of co-extinction as a consequence of losing one of the resources it depends upon. Because the small carpenter bee also pollinates the myrtle, the latter is also under threat of extinction.”