Venomous snakes have the ability to migrate en masse in the context of global warming – Are you interested in that?
Essay by Eric Worrall
Sell your car or will the snakes catch you?
Research shows that venomous snakes have the ability to migrate en masse in the context of global warming
Researchers found that many countries are unprepared for the influx of new species and will be vulnerable to bites
Neelima Vallangi Friday 3 May 2024 19:35 AEST
Climate change could lead to large-scale migration of venomous snakes into new areas and unprepared countries, according to a study.
Researchers predict that Nepal, Niger, Namibia, China and Myanmar will acquire the most venomous snakes from neighboring countries under warming climate conditions.
According to the findings, low-income countries in South and Southeast Asia as well as parts of Africa will be especially vulnerable to the increasing number of snakebites. published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health.
The study modeled the geographic distribution of 209 venomous snake species known to cause medical emergencies in humans to understand where different snake species might find favorable climatic conditions. in 2070.
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Summary of the study;
Climate-related range shifts of venomous snakes: a predictive modeling study of impacts on public health and biodiversity
Summary
Background
Climate change is expected to have a profound impact on the distribution of venomous snakes, including reducing biodiversity and changing patterns of toxicity to humans and pets. We estimate the impact of future climate change on the distribution of venomous snakes and the potential knock-on effects for biodiversity and public health.
method
We constructed species distribution models based on the geographical distribution of 209 medically relevant venomous snake species (WHO categories 1 and 2) and introduced climatic variables, and used used these models to predict the likely distribution of species in 2070. We incorporated different future climate scenarios into the model we used to estimate loss and obtained from potentially suitable areas for each species. We also assessed which countries are likely to gain new species in the future as species cross national borders. We integrated species distribution models with different socioeconomic scenarios to estimate which countries will be more susceptible to snakebites in 2070.
Findings
Our results suggest that a significant loss of areas potentially suitable for the survival of most venomous snake species will occur by 2070. However, some species pose a high risk to With public health it is possible to have areas that are climatically suitable for living. Countries such as Niger, Namibia, China, Nepal and Myanmar may have acquired some venomous snakes from neighboring countries. Furthermore, the combination of an increase in climatically suitable areas and socioeconomic factors (including low- and high-income rural populations) means that Southeast Asia and Africa ( and countries including Uganda, Kenya, Bangladesh, India and Thailand in particular) may have increased. susceptible to future snake bites, with potential implications for public health and veterinary medicine.
Interpretation
Loss of venomous snake biodiversity in low-income countries will affect ecosystem functioning and lead to the loss of valuable genetic resources. In addition, climate change will create new public health challenges in some low-income countries, especially in Southeast Asia and Africa. The international community needs to increase efforts to combat the impacts of climate change in the coming decades.
Expense
German Research Foundation, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, German Center for Integrated Biodiversity Research, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación de España, European Regional Development Fund .
Read more: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(24)00005-6/fulltext
Model all the way down.
In venomous Australia, we’ve developed a very simple solution to the snake threat: Buy a cat.
Greens complain about domestic cats slaughtering local wildlife, and this complaint is largely true.
But one of the types of wild cats that really likes to kill are venomous snakes. They like the taste. So most of us are fine with occasionally dragging the endangered bird through the cat door, in exchange for almost complete protection from animals that could kill us or our children. .
Did I mention that cats are really popular in my part of Australia? A few years ago, my cat got a lot of treats and fuss when he saved me from a snake.
The snake suddenly fell from the rafters in the outdoor patio area onto my desk, landing right behind my laptop.
The snake didn’t prowl anymore, it was too worried about escaping from the cat. Although to be fair, it probably climbed up into the rafters in the first place because my cat was stalking it. That time, the snake ran away, even though the snake was seriously injured – the cat scratched and bit it, but the snake managed to get through a crack in the fence where the cat couldn’t chase.
Of course, snake-cat encounters are less common in urban environments, my snake encounter occurred while I was living on a large property. Snakes aren’t the smartest animals, but they know what cats smell like and usually stay away from places frequented by their mortal enemies.
I’m not sure how common domestic cats are in the countries named in the study, but I’d wager that they would become a lot more common if the threat of venomous snakes emerged, regardless of the cause.
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