It’s nothing new: climate change is threatening marine biodiversity, but scientists at Oxford University have taken a closer look at the species that are thought to be most at risk.

The researchers analysed more than 290,000 fossil archives of marine invertebrates over a period of 485 million years to understand the resilience factors of species in the face of this challenge.

Temperature-related factors are obviously crucial. The greater the impact of climate change, the more vulnerable species are, particularly those living in extreme conditions or with a narrow temperature range, especially below 15°C.

The factor that seems to have the greatest impact is size. In particular, the size of the geographical range and the size of the species. In both cases, the greater the size, the less likely the species is to disappear.

⚠️ However, let’s not forget the importance of an ecosystem: each species is necessary for the survival of the others. “This should serve as a stern warning to humanity as we recklessly continue to cause climate change ourselves by burning fossil fuels”. Recalls Dan Lunt, researcher at the University of Bristol.

🔗 To find out more about this crucial study for the future of our planet, read the scientific article: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adj5763