Posted on 05/13/2010 1:42:53 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Global warming could kill off as many as a fifth of the world's lizards by 2080, with potentially devastating consequences for ecosystems around the world, a study released Thursday said.
Researchers who conducted a major survey of lizard populations worldwide said in a study published in the May 14th issue of Science that lizards appear to be especially sensitive to the effects of climate change and are dying off at an alarming rate.
The loss of the lizard populations could wreak havoc with ecosystems in which they are a crucial part of the food chain, since they are important prey for many birds, snakes, and voracious predators of insects.
The biologists in the study ruled out factors other than global warming as being responsible for the rapid decrease in the lizard population.
"We did a lot of work on the ground to validate the model and show that the extinctions are the result of climate change," said Barry Sinervo, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California at Santa Cruz.
"None of these are due to habitat loss. These sites are not disturbed in any way, and most of them are in national parks or other protected areas," he said.
The scientists worked up models based on predicted probabilities of local extinction showing the likelihood of species extinction was estimated to be six percent by 2050 and 20 percent by 2080.
Earlier models, they said, have accurately predicted the extinctions of lizard population on five continents around the world.
The researchers said they first noted the disappearance of lizard populations in France and later in Mexico, where 12 percent of lizard populations are thought to have died out.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Until we showed up and God gave us one of these self-professed brains to tell us we are screwing EVERYTHING up.
When I die and meet God, I'm gonna give him a good talking to....
Ok, the Devil I understand. Liberals and liberal science....?
We really must have pissed you off, huh?
Yes, matter of fact we saw one this past Monday. There are not near as many lizards and horny toads, but I think the fire ants killed most of those.
F the lizards!
I can’t tell if the lizards have been killed off by the heat or not. There’s six inches of snow on the ground and the high today is about 35.
Actually lizards love HEAT. its cold they can’t handle..
I think they should set aside special sanctuaries for the lizards, with low lighting and happy hour specials. Under those conditions, some of them will actually sing, although not well.
My local weatherperson only gets the 3 day forecast right 57% of the time.
It is a field wide open for these "geniuses".
(/s)
I wonder if any of those "models" predicted the probability that I would smack one of those so-called scientists upsida their head if I ever met them?
Probably not.......
God, I hope so.
Too bad its the usual totally fake Global Warming pseudo-science.
Lizards are cold blooded, and therefore thrive and extend their range greatly in warmer climates.
true.
Adapt or die.
Now we know how the “V” series ends.
I don’t know how I feel about this. I have never tasted lizard.
Well, if it does happen it’s a natural event.
Same Hoax, different reptile. Look at the awful "root" of this "speculation" ... it has nothing to do with "green, or bugs or reptiles" ... just green MONEY! (Yours and Mine).
"Help! A vote for Harry Reid might save my life!"
So let me get this straight: if computer models of a non-linear dynamical system, which were worthless for long-term prediction from the get-go for mathematical reasons, all of which have been empirically falsified by the last 10 years of data were right, then in 70 years, there would have been a 20% decrease in the world lizard population.
And this is relevant to anything how?
It is pretty clear this falls into the “made-up” category.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.