A study conducted by researchers at North Carolina State University found that climate is the most influential factor in determining where mammals thrive, despite the significant impact of human activity on the natural world. The study collected data on 25 mammal species from over 6,600 locations across the United States, making it one of the largest camera trap data analyses ever performed. The researchers aimed to compare the importance of climate versus human factors in determining mammal habitat preferences, and found that climate, including temperature and rainfall, was the most crucial factor for most of the species observed.
While human activity, such as large population centers and agriculture, did play a significant role in where mammals chose to live, climate emerged as the primary determinant across various species. Some species thrived in the presence of humans, while others struggled, highlighting the diverse impacts of human activity on mammal populations. By understanding which species are sensitive to human impacts and which ones benefit from them, researchers were able to create maps predicting the distribution of various mammals across the contiguous U.S., ultimately dividing the country into ecoregions based on mammal populations.
These ecoregions, previously used primarily in plant studies, provide a new framework for studying mammal populations and predicting their distribution based on climate and food availability. The researchers found a strong correlation between plant diversity and mammal abundance in different regions, with regions with higher rainfall supporting more plant growth and thus more abundant mammal populations. The study, published in Diversity and Distributions, presents a new tool for predicting the impacts of climate change on mammal populations, as rising global temperatures will lead to shifts in habitat suitability and influence factors such as precipitation levels and plant growth.
By identifying climate as the primary influence on mammal habitat choice, the study highlights the importance of understanding how climate change will affect wildlife populations in the future. Predicting these impacts will be crucial for making sustainable decisions about mammal population management, as shifts in habitat suitability will require conservation efforts to adapt to changing environmental conditions. The study’s findings provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between climate, human activity, and mammal populations, shedding light on how different species respond to environmental changes and human presence.
