Global warming threatens to kill off a million species

Fill the gaps using these key words from the text.

extinct conservation irreversible species

startling migration curb (verb) doomed

1. … means ‘surprising’ or ‘very unusual’.

2. An … condition or situation is one which is impossible to change or bring back.

3. If something is … , it is certain to fail or to be destroyed.

4. An … animal or plant no longer exists.

5. If you … something, you limit or control it.

6. … is the process by which land and water is managed to prevent it being destroyed or damaged.

7. A … is a plant or animal group whose members all have similar general features.

8. … is the process of moving to another part of the world.

Look through the text and answer these questions.

1. How many species are expected to be lost by the year 2050?

2. How much of the land surface of the world does the report on global warming cover?

3. How many species of butterfly did they study in Australia?

4. How many species of South African plants are expected to die out?

5. How many species were examined in Mexico?

6. How long does it take for the greenhouse effect to have its full effect on the planet?

7. Which gases cause the greenhouse effect?

8. Which human activities produce greenhouse gases?

Global warming threatens to kill off a million species

The changing climate over the next 50 years is expected to drive a quarter of land animals and plants into extinction, according to the first comprehensive study into the effect of higher temperatures on the natural world. The scale of the disaster facing the planet shocked those involved in the research. They estimate that more than 1 million species will be lost by 2050.

The results are described as "terrifying" by Chris Thomas, professor of conservation biology at Leeds University, who is lead author of the research from four continents published last week in the magazine Nature. Much of that loss – more than one in 10 of all plants and animals – is already irreversible because of the extra global warming gases already discharged into the atmosphere. But the scientists say that action to curb greenhouse gases now could save many more. It took two years for the largest global collaboration of experts to make the first major assessment of the effect of climate change on six biologically rich regions of the world taking in 20% of the land surface. The research in Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and South Africa, showed that species living in mountainous areas had a greater chance of survival because they could move uphill to get cooler.

Professor Thomas said: "When scientists set about research they hope to come up with definite results, but what we found we wish we had not. It was far, far worse than we thought, and what we have discovered may even be an underestimate."

Among the more startling findings of the scientists was that of 24 species of butterfly studied in Australia, all but three would disappear in much of their current range, and half would become extinct.

In South Africa, major conservation areas such as Kruger National Park risked losing up to 60% of the species under their protection, while of 300 South African plant species studied, more than one third were expected to die out, including the national flower, the King Protea.

In the Cerrado region of Brazil which covers one fifth of the country, a study of 163 tree species showed that up to 70 would become extinct. Many of the plants and trees that exist in this savannah occur nowhere else in the world. In Europe, the continent least affected by climate change, survival rates were better.

Studies in Mexico’s Chihuahuan desert confirmed that on flatter land extinction was more likely because a small change in climate would require migrations over vast distances for survival. One third of 1,870 species examined would be in trouble.

So many species are already destined for extinction because it takes at least 25 years for the greenhouse effect - or the trapping of the sun’s rays by the carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide - to have its full effect on the planet. The continuous discharge of more greenhouse gases, particularly by the United States and European nations, is making matters worse. The research says that, if mankind continues to burn oil, coal and gas at the current rate, up to one third of all life forms will be doomed by 2050.

The Guardian Weekly, page 3