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Even though the most significant impact from climate change has been in polar regions, a new report co-authored by assistant professor of biology Catherine Cardelús may debunk the notion that tropical plants and animals remain unaffected by global warming.

The research conducted by Cardelús and four other scientists was published in this week’s issue of Science magazine, and media outlets around the world have reported the team’s findings.

Assistant professor of biology Catherine Cardelús, co-author of a report about global warming, works in a research shelter in Costa Rica.

“Until now, there has been little attention given to the impact of a warming climate on tropical diversity,” said Cardelús.

“There is a lingering belief that because species live in hot climates, they can withstand even higher temperatures. This, however, is not necessarily true.”

Contrary to conventional wisdom, tropical species living in some of the warmest places on earth may be significantly threatened by global warming, according to the study.

The report indicates that global warming would shift temperature zones uphill and tropical species will likely be driven to higher, cooler elevations by these changes, following the climate zones they are suited for.

Cardelús and her fellow researchers, who collected data on 2,000 species of plants and animals along forested slopes of a Costa Rican volcano, believe the results of such a shift could be devastating to lowland tropics.

“Lowland tropics do not have a pool of species to replace those driven uphill by warming, which could lead to a decrease in the region’s biodiversity,” she warned.

More than half the species they studied in Costa Rica could potentially face such risks.

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