14 DAY TRIAL // Those who tend to leave fruits laying around the house are probably all too familiar with this particular class of insects that show up immediately after one's healthy snack begins to feel the consequences of old age and starts to rot.
Apparently, the two global phenomena we have been speaking about on a regular basis for quite some time now (climate change and global warming) stand to rid us of this pestilence, as fruit flies are simply too much attached to their old ways in order to allow themselves to adapt to new environmental conditions.
Joking aside, the Environmental News Network informs us that the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences recently witnesses the publication of a new study stating that these insect species are presently stuck into a so-called “evolutionary straitjacket.”
Therefore, predicted increases in global average temperatures are likely to lead to their falling off the biodiversity map.
As the researchers who looked into this issue explain, it may be true that some species of fruit flies have in time developed in such ways that they can withstand intense heat, but the remainder only thrive in considerably cooler climates.
As well as this, those which are presently successful in coping with high temperatures will also experience some difficulties should the planet warm just a tad more, given the fact that they can only resist extremes in terms of heat and humidity within the parameters they are already familiar with.
Dr. Kellerman, presently working with the Monash University School of Biological Sciences, explained how, “If a species can only withstand temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature of the environment is already 36 degrees Celsius, an increase of even 1 degree Celsius would already put this species over the edge towards extinction.”
Furthermore, “Given our findings, these expected increases pose a major threat to biodiversity in the near future. Particularly as Drosophila or fruit fly findings are often more broadly applicable.”
In other words, fruit flies will be some of the first animals to become extinct as a result of climate change and global warming, but many more are likely to soon follow in their footsteps.