Low oxygen could limit insects' uphill escape from climate warming
Reduced oxygen levels and air pressure at higher elevations may limit insects' ability to move upslope to escape a warming climate, with potential consequences for the essential services they provide, like pollination, according to a new review in the journal, Functional Ecology.
New research published in the journal Functional Ecology suggests that rising temperatures may make it harder for insects to migrate to higher elevations as a means of escaping a warming climate. A review of existing studies on insects' physiological responses to low oxygen and low pressure conditions found that many species are shifting their ranges to higher elevations to find suitable temperatures.
However, insects, particularly those with active larval stages, face significant challenges at higher altitudes due to thinner air, reduced oxygen levels, and increased water loss. These factors can limit their ability to fly and breathe effectively, potentially impeding their ability to move uphill as an escape route from climate change.
Art Woods, the lead researcher, emphasized that while it may seem intuitive that insects would have an easier time adapting to higher elevations, their respiratory systems struggle to supply enough oxygen to meet the demands of active stages, especially growing juveniles and flying adults. The study calls for further research into the physiological limitations of insects at high elevations, as this knowledge could inform conservation strategies that help protect these vital components of ecosystems, such as pollination and decomposition, which could be disrupted if insects cannot successfully shift their ranges upslope.
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