Oldest Sheep Contribute Most To Population Growth When Climate Changes Making Conditions Harsh

Populations of wild animals face the challenge of surviving in a changing climate. Researchers at Imperial College London and Université Claude Bernard Lyon have shown how a sheep population on a remote island off the west coast of Scotland responds to two consequences of climate change: altered food availability and the unpredictability of winter storms.

Dr. Thomas Ezard, lead author of the study, revealed, “When times are good and food is plentiful, lambs contribute almost twice as much to changes in population size than when times are hard. On the flip side, the oldest sheep contribute most to population growth when conditions are harsh.”

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Tagged as: Animals, Climate Changes, Climates, Dr. Thomas Ezard, Imperial College London, Population Growth, Scotland, Sheep, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon, Wild Animals

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