The Santa will lose his reindeer!
The number of Arctic reindeer will decrease by 80%!
By the end of the 21st century, the number of Arctic reindeer may decrease by 80%, warned scientists from the University of Adelaide and the University of Copenhagen.
Los ing these key Arctic herbivores will lead to serious ecological and social consequences.
Arctic reindeer have adapted to the harsh Arctic environment since the ice age, but they are now threatened with mass extinction due to global warming.
The paper was published in Science Advances on August 24.
By 2100, their habitat area will decrease by nearly 50%.
An international team of scientists analyzed data from the past 21,000 years using fossils, ancient DNA, and computer modeling.
Dr. Elizabeth Cantrell pointed out: "In the past 30 years, the number of Arctic reindeer has decreased by 60%, and this trend is continuing."
The disappearance of Arctic reindeer will bring widespread ecological consequences.
These herbivores regulate vegetation by maintaining balance between different plants.
Their reduction will lead to an overgrowth of shrubs and mosses, accelerating soil heating and permafrost melting.
As a result, carbon dioxide will be released from the soil - a factor that enhances global warming.
In addition to ecological destruction, Arctic indigenous people will also be affected, as these indigenous people rely on Arctic reindeer as an important food and source of livelihood.
Scientists call for global efforts to protect the climate and maintain the Arctic ecosystem, to prevent catastrophic decreases in the number of Arctic reindeer, and to maintain the fragile balance of the local nature.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841376094374916/
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