Posted on 11/22/2017 8:07:07 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
Many species, including humans, struggle to survive when temperatures rise too high. But even small increases can affect animals, causing subtle changes in physiology or behavior that alter how they fare.
For some lizards, the effects of heat may, somewhat literally, be a no-brainer. A new study published in Royal Society Open Science has found that a temperature increase on the scale expected from climate change can make bearded dragons dumber.
Bearded dragons are Australian lizards that have become popular as pets, and like other reptiles, they’re not as dumb as they might seem. “Reptiles were long considered to be sluggish and unintelligent creatures,” said Anna Wankinsom, an animal cognition scientist at the University of Lincoln in the U.K. But that has been changing, as research has showed that many lizards possess complex cognitive skills, from navigation to problem solving.
Reptiles were already facing steep odds from climate change—it’s estimated that one-fifth of all lizard species could be extinct by 2080. Mental dimming could further stack the deck.Amiel suspects that there may be a few winners, like his skinks—and then, there will be the dragons. “They might be losers, and that allows other animals to come in and challenge them for that habitat,” he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalgeographic.com ...
Is “bearded dragons” a new euphemism for the left wing media?
If so then yes, climate change is making bearded dragons dumber.
Well, they ain't rocket scientists to begin with...
Big deal... I doubt anyone buys a pet bearded dragon for their brains. /s
; )
Damn, another crisis that is not going to keep me awake at night.
Very good. I like your con-gress and pro-gress.
How did they get them to take an IQ test?..................
Considering that I take extreme measures to keep all my reptiles very warm, to avoid sickness and death, yeah.
The Ball Pythons require temps in the 90s and the Boas, high 80s.
Lower than that, they get sick with respiratory infections, cannot digest their food properly and are susceptible to skin issues.
Heat is good for herps.
Yup, and they all thermoregulate easily by moving from sun to shade.
This “study” is stupid.
And what is the baseline, 100, for bearded dragons?..............
Did someone say dragons!
Bearded Dragons were bright enough to trick their human “owners” into devoting their lives to them and providing every creature comfort, so they’d never have to be hungry or cold again.
Not too stupid, I’d say.
“How did they get them to take an IQ test?..................”
They gave them Facebook accounts.
Those infernal “how smart are you?” quizzes are irresistible.
They exact opposite is true.
Especially with cold-blooded creatures such as reptiles.
Cold weather makes them moribund and sluggish. Even large mammals, such as bears, prefer to hibernate. When one is expending energy just to survive, it’s hard to think about being “creative” or “Artistic”.
But then, again, this propaganda can even be tagged as “raciss”!
Are they suggesting that humans that inhabit the colder latitudes (usually melanin-deprived persons of the Caucasoid Variety) are SMARTER than those who inhabit the warmer Equatorial Regions? Hmmmmm?????
In any case, the picture of ol’ joe is quite appropriate!
More believable:
National Geographic Are Dumber Because of Climate Change
Moving right along...
a temperature increase on the scale expected from climate change can make bearded dragons dumber.
Small increases, which are delaying the next Ice Age, would be welcomed by all cold-blooded critters, who become more active. What we do know is fear of warmth makes bearded academics dumber.
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