A lot has been said, written and discussed about the effect of global warming on the life forms inhabiting the polar region. The polar bear was feared to become extinct on account of temperature rises. But, a shocking revelation by Curtis Deutsch (assisatant professor of atmosphere and oceanic studies University of California, Los Angeles) and Joshua Tewksbury (Washington University, who co-authored the study) in Proceedings (the National Academy of Sciences journal) states that the tropical insects are going to be the immediate victims of global warming. It is true that there will be greater temperature changes in the Polar Regions than the tropical regions on account of global warming, but the insects in the tropical regions are highly sensitive to even the slightest rises in temperatures. Even a one or two degrees rise in temperature is going to prove fatal for them.
The study was done by finding out the effect of daily and monthly temperatures on the fitness of the species in the tropical regions in terms of the rate of growth of their population and physical performance from the year 1950 to 2000.
It has been reasoned out that the temperatures in the tropical regions is already very high and the insects are living at optimum temperatures and even a slight variation can play havoc on their survival as they do not have any inbuilt mechanism to adapt themselves to the temperature rise. The tropical insects play a major role in conserving the ecological balance of the tropical region. They serve as pollinating agents and contribute well in bio-degradation of organic matter and assist in the procurement of food for organisms that are higher up in the food chain.
Hence an extinction of these insects will have a negative impact on crop birth and growth, organic waste will not be decomposed efficiently and this will lead to environmental pollution which in turn implies the birth of plant and animal diseases. The possibility of insect extinction along with the predicted changes in rainfall patterns is sure to disturb the ecological harmony of the tropical region. Ultimately it’s the human being who is going to be the one to be gravely affected by global warming in the tropical region.
Via: The Independent
