Increased bouts of extreme weather in the future will lead to mass extinctions of insects and reptiles, a new study shows.
Researchers determined the temperatures at which ten Australian fruit fly species could develop and reproduce, and their limits of tolerance for hot and cold temperatures.
Cold-blooded species, or ectotherms, rely on the environment to regulate their body temperature and will be more susceptible to the impact of climate change. The results show species distribution is shaped by tolerance of unusually warm or cold days and even short term weather events can pose a threat to population numbers.
Read more at The University of Melbourne