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Working to conserve species under climatic risk 🦎
Maps and reports available soon!

VULNERAWEB is pleased to participate in the 2nd Co

VULNERAWEB is pleased to participate in the 2nd Congress on Applied Ethology at UAM, organized by the Master's Program in Applied Ethology and animal-Assisted Intervention from the Department of Biological and Health Psychology.

We presented our work on the development of the Maximum Voluntary Temperature (MTV) measurement as a non-invasive method to assess species' tolerance to high temperatures.

Find out more at: www.vulneraweb.com

🌍🔥 Researchers have discovered that global w

🌍🔥 Researchers have discovered that global warming seriously threatens the survival of amphibians 🐸. A recent study published in Nature reveals that many species are at significant risk due to rising temperatures 🌡️. Many species are nearing their thermal limits, with 7.5% at high risk ⚠️ of overheating if global temperatures increase by 4°C.

Tropical species in the Southern Hemisphere and non-tropical species in the North face more overheating events. Shaded microhabitats 🌿 and bodies of water 💧, essential for amphibian survival, are increasingly compromised and are crucial for mitigating these effects.

Urgent action is needed to implement habitat protection and restoration strategies 🌱, sustainable water management, and environmental education 📚. Tools like VulneraWeb can enhance conservation planning and execution, identifying priority areas for conservation and strengthening actions against climate change.

📌 More details in the study: 🔗 Vulnerability of amphibians to global warming. Pottier et al. (2025)

#nature #conservation #climatechange #endangeredspecies #vulneraweb #vulnerawebglobal

VULNERAWEB's coordinator presented a new and effec

VULNERAWEB's coordinator presented a new and effective system to identify sites under present climatic threat for endangered herpetofauna across the world. The presentation was held at the 10th World Herpetolofy Congress, in Borneo, Malaysia. Organizations interested in justifying conservation projects at climatically threatening sites, please register through our portal at www.vulneraweb.com to receive important data to press your local administrations to approve relevant grants and actions.

#vulneraweb #wch10 #iucn

VULNERAWEB is delighted of having participated as

VULNERAWEB is delighted of having participated as consulting expert of the Amphibian and Reptile conservation meeting. Thousand thanks to the STEPS FOR LIFE PROJECT and the CINEA components for the great organization. More highlights on the congress coming soon!

#vulneraweb #iucn #lifeprogramme #cinea #stepsforlife

Where will poison arrow frogs be vulnerable to ext

Where will poison arrow frogs be vulnerable to extremely hot temperatures?! Contrasting thermal physiology, altitude and temperatures of microhabitats used by tadpoles of different frog species points to an answer: species from lower areas will be more impacted, particularly at temporary, open-habitat, ponds. Read more of this intrepid and beautiful study, led by Pol Pintanel and Miguel Tejedo. The article is open-access at:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jbi.14860

#dendrobatids #natural_treasures #iucn #vulnerawebglobal

Good news for evaluating thermal vulnerability in

Good news for evaluating thermal vulnerability in reptiles with less stress!
Our new global study shows that traditional and stressful measures of thermal tolerance are worse at predicting heat-imposed limits to the geographic distribution of reptiles. Behavioral measures of thermal tolerance such as the voluntary thermal maximum and the maximum of field body temperatures performed much better to identify where hot temperatures constrain the distribution of reptiles across the world.
Find more information on our article:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724003000

A free previous version can be found at:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.30.468083v1.full

Find protocols to measure the voluntary maximum at
https://vulneraweb.com/wiki/

#iucnvulnerable #iucncongress
#reptiles #conservation #climatic_vulnerability

In the most humid places on earth, it is possible

In the most humid places on earth, it is possible to find little creatures that help us understand how the excess or lack of water may doom animal populations. Such is the case of the lizards Loxopholis ferreirai (first) and Loxopholis percarinatum (second) that we studied during our last trip to the Rio Negro. The first species climbs up trunks to survive the common floods in the riverine Igapó forests. In turn, the second species depends on wet enough terra firme to survive. For both species, the maximum temperatures they are capable of withstand decay with their hydration level. That means bad news for populations affected by drought across the Amazon Basin! Learn more in our recent article:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0286502

#iucn #vulneraweb #amazonbiodiversity #natural_treasures #lizards #amazonreptiles

During our last mission at the Rio Negro, Amazon B

During our last mission at the Rio Negro, Amazon Basin, we reached the Jacamin mountains, where Alfred Russel Wallace himself came to study the distribution of Amazonian species. We have been finding reptiles and amphibians and measuring their voluntary thermal maximum across the river margins, understanding how the lack of water could affect them, and producing climatic vulnerability maps for some of the most widespread lizards in the Amazonian leaf litter.

If you represent an organization concerned with the climatic vulnerability of species, visit www.vulneraweb.com

#iucn #vulnerawebglobal #amazon
#biodiversity #naturaltreasures

Often, small species, like frogs and salamanders o

Often, small species, like frogs and salamanders occupy only little crucial spots within large reserves. In these cases, reaching them requires trekking across irregular pathways. Yesterday, it was the turn for a population of Salamandrina terdigitatta and Rana italica, sampled at the north of Rome. More happy releases and more data to know where they could be imperiled by climate change. More news about them soon!

#amphibians #conservation #biodiversity #vulneraweb #climate adaptation

Free and safe! The true reward after developing et

Free and safe! The true reward after developing ethical systems to measure thermal tolerance for around a decade is to see these little creatures going back to their refuges after telling us which temperatures they dislike. That will help us identify population under climátic risk across the world. Stay put because new maps of climátic vulnerability for amazonian lizards are coming soon!

#climatic_vulnerability #amphibians

In the heart of Brazil, the relentless sun and ari

In the heart of Brazil, the relentless sun and arid conditions of the Brazilian Caatinga make it an inhospitable land for delicate species. However, within the breathtakingly deep rock crevices of Serra da Capivara lie verdant and lush forests that can reach heights exceeding 30 meters, harboring a community of diverse wildlife. This sierra, once the home to an ancient South American culture, now serves as a climatic refuge. A climatic refuge is a type of landscape with geological features that can sustain particularly sensitive species in the face of the surrounding climate.

One such inhabitant of this refuge is Colobosauroides carvalhoi, a species unseen for decades and known solely from this Sierra and its neighboring areas. Our study focused on the voluntary thermal maximum (VTM) of this unique creature, comparing it with the temperatures in its surroundings. The species is confined to a few of these deep crevices, where temperatures seldom reach such extremes. Colobosauroides carvalhoi, crucial for unraveling how forest species have adapted to such arid regions, is now one of the most endangered species due to climate warming."

These revisions aim to enhance clarity, coherence, and accuracy in conveying the intended information about the unique habitat and the endangered species.

Between the Amazon and the Orinoquía, hidden abov

Between the Amazon and the Orinoquía, hidden above omnipresent fogs, are the Tepuis. These ancient plateaus of more than 1000 meters a.s.l. They are covered by open habitats that contrast with the surrounding forests. They are home to ancient animal lineages, which, like this Riolama grandis, once reached these places and adapted to them millions of years ago. It has been said that these species could be endangered by climate warming, but their heat tolerance has never been measured before. During the description of the species, the first thermal vulnerability analysis of these animals was published, comparing the maximum air temperatures in the shade with their voluntary thermal maximum. Fortunately, the adaptation of this species to open, more variable habitats allows them to resist the temperatures expected for the future. However, if the tree line rises with warming, the habitat of this lover of low shrubs and ferns could disappear. Source: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article/190/1/271/5716277

New important developments! A new way to describe

New important developments! A new way to describe thermal tolerance that holds on species' thermoregulatory behavior brings a dramatic increase in the power to detect thermally vulnerable populations. However, it suggest thermally vulnerable populations might be much more widespread than previously thought!

Find text for free in the link below.

https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/5/680

#climaticchange #climaticcrisis #climatic_vulnerability #species_conservation #species_conservation_fund

In order to understand and prioritize species prot

In order to understand and prioritize species protection within the context of climate change, we must understand which species are most at risk. In a recent study conducted to assess the thermal vulnerability of pseudoscorpions (a type of scorpion-like arachnid) researchers measured the physiological thermal limit of the species. Researchers ultimately found that the thermal limit they measured was about 3 degrees Celsius higher than the thermal limit according to distributional and climate data, which measures thermal limit based on temperatures of the caves the pseudoscorpions dwell in. This indicates that the pseudoscorpion in the Iberian Peninsula may be more heat-tolerant than originally thought. Check out the full study: “Thermal tolerance and vulnerability to climate change in subterranean species: a case study using an Iberian endemic pseudoscorpion.”

📷: Peter Grob 🦂

Equator-range kelp forests are currently at risk o

Equator-range kelp forests are currently at risk of experiencing harmful effects of climate change. Not only are these areas currently experiencing warming at or beyond thermal tolerance thresholds, kelp forests in these locations may also contain unique evolutionary diversity that is being threatened. Researchers investigating the effects of warming on kelp populations off Moreton Island found that this area once supported the highest kelp cover in Eastern Australia and represents a genetically diverse evolutionary refuge at risk of being lost. Read “Climate change threatens unique evolutionary diversity in Australian kelp refugia” for the full study.

📷: @safe_envir 🌱

A study conducted on the impact of climate change

A study conducted on the impact of climate change on future habitats of crocodile lizards exposes dire predictions. Even the most optimistic climate models show that by the year 2100, less than 8 percent of suitable habitat for this species will remain. Crocodile lizards are known to inhabit the cool forests of southeast China and northeast Vietnam. Climate models such as the ones conducted in this study are vital for understanding the possible consequences for this species and the effects of their disappearance on the surrounding environment. For the full study, check out “Climate Change and Dispersal Ability Jointly Affects the Future Distribution of Crocodile Lizards.”

📷: Arvind Ayilliath 🦎

The climatic variability hypothesis predicts that

The climatic variability hypothesis predicts that an animal’s climatic tolerance tends to be broader in climates with higher variability. This hypothesis provides a framework for studying the relationship between an animal’s physiology and their geographic distribution. Unfortunately, research on this hypothesis with regard to endotherms, also referred to as warm-blooded animals, is lacking. More research focusing on the relationship between physiology and biogeography is needed in order to conserve climate vulnerable species in the future. Check out “Global variation in thermal tolerances and vulnerability of endotherms to climate change” for a study on this relationship.

📷: Siân Addison
a red squirrel in Scotland 🐿️

The Mediterranean Basin is becoming more prone to

The Mediterranean Basin is becoming more prone to frequent and intense heat waves as temperatures rise, affecting several species of songbirds in the region. In a study that investigated the heat tolerance limits (HTLs) and evaporative cooling efficiency of eight of these species, researchers found five of the eight songbirds to be particularly at risk of lethal dehydration levels within the next 80 years. A species’ heat tolerance limit is the maximum air temperature they can tolerate before experiencing severe heat stress. Evaporative cooling tendency refers to a species’ ability to remove heat from their bodies through bodily functions. Based on this study, Mediterranean songbirds are particularly susceptible to climate change risks. Read “Heat tolerance limits of Mediterranean songbirds and their current and future vulnerabilities to temperature extremes” for the full study.

📷: Ernesto Orellana
Spanish songbird 🐦

Amphibians and reptiles are among the most vulnera

Amphibians and reptiles are among the most vulnerable groups of species threatened by climate change due to their narrow climatic/habitat requirements and their limited dispersal abilities. In a study researching the effects of climate change on the future distribution of 37 species of herptiles in the Iberian peninsula, researchers predicted that species in the NW region of the peninsula have severely reduced future distributions. This could lead to as many as 13 species losing their entire distribution by 2080. Check out “From climate change predictions to actions - conserving vulnerable animal groups in hotspots at a regional scale” to read the full study.

📷: Mike Perez - Vipera seoanei, a venomous snake endemic to the northern region of the Iberian peninsula 🐍

With temperature changes increasing around the glo

With temperature changes increasing around the globe, the importance of preventing the spread of pathogens that threaten both human and wildlife populations cannot be overstated. A 2010 paper outlines ways humans can more safely handle amphibians during field studies in order to prevent this spread. Check out “Minimising Exposure of Amphibians to Pathogens During Field Studies” from the Diseases of Aquatic Organisms (DAO) journal to read the full article.

📷: @mohsinkazmitakespictures in the Madre de Dios region of Peru 🐸

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