A new study from the University of Helsinki reveals that the Siberian primrose, an Arctic coastal plant, may only survive climate change if global warming is limited according to the Paris Agreement. The research underscores the urgent need to mitigate climate change to protect species worldwide.
A recent study from the University of Helsinki has shed light on the dire circumstances facing the Siberian primrose, an Arctic coastal plant, in the wake of rapid climate change. The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, highlight the urgent need for global mitigation efforts to ensure species survival.
This research, conducted by the Finnish Museum of Natural History, focused on the adaptive capacity of the Siberian primrose, found on the coasts of the Bothnian Bay and Arctic Ocean. With climate change advancing at an alarming pace, the survival of this species is under threat.
“The Siberian primrose is a good example of a species threatened by rapidly advancing climate change. It cannot migrate to more favorable conditions due to geographic constraints, leaving adaptation in its current habitat as its only survival option,” Marko Hyvärinen, director of the Finnish Museum of Natural History, said in a news release.
The study’s results indicate that the Siberian primrose may only adapt successfully to climate change if global warming is limited in line with the Paris Agreement’s objectives. This international treaty aims to keep global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius, a goal critical for the adaptation of various species. The flowers and other vital traits of the Siberian primrose are unlikely to evolve rapidly enough to withstand the changing climate unless effective measures are taken.
“Our research suggests that the evolutionary potential of wild species is seriously limited in the face of rapidly advancing climate change. This means that the future of many species is at stake, unless climate change is effectively curbed,” added postdoctoral researcher Anniina Mattila.
The study not only underlines the pressing need to curb climate change but also stresses proactive conservation measures like species translocation to new viable habitats. Understanding the adaptive capacity of species such as the Siberian primrose is crucial for targeting accurate conservation efforts.
Notably, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has reported a 1.1-degree Celsius rise in global temperatures since the pre-industrial era, with the Arctic experiencing warming up to four times faster. This rapid warming severely limits the adaptation time available for species like the Siberian primrose. Meeting the Paris Agreement goals is increasingly challenging but vital for species’ natural adaptation.