Marcela Alvarenga | PhD Student, University of PortoLess Snow, Less HealthWhat can you do about it?
Due to the global warming, snow coverage is decreasing worldwide, reaching a loss of 87,000 km²/year. This has direct impacts on biodiversity and indigenous people. Also, indirect effects on worldwide climate, threating wildlife and human health.
marcela.alvarenga@cibio.up.pt
@BioMarAlvarenga | @evochange
marcela.alvarenga@cibio.up.pt
@BioMarAlvarenga | @evochange
Choco & ChipsHello there, we are Choco and Chips, two stoats! Check this video to meet us =)
The stoat, ermine or short-tailed weasel (Mustela
erminea) is a small carnivore with a circumpolar distribution in the
northern hemisphere.
Links with information aboutseasonal camouflageBesides the stoats, more than 20 mammals and birds undergo seasonal camouflage, check the links to know a bit more about it.
There is a way!There are scientists studying this feature!
Meet the Research Group where Marcela is doing her PhD research studying the genetic basis and evolution of stoats seasonal camouflage.
- EVOCHANGE Research Group, Genomics of Evolutionary Change at CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Associate Laboratory, University of Porto
Climate changing is affecting more than us, the stoatsClimate Change ImpactsGet to know some of them!
The environmental disruption cause by climate change is affecting not only wildlife but also the humans, leading to health issues, such as premature death caused by extreme events (such as heat waves, floods and wildfires), increase in respiratory and cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, food security (specially for indigenous people in places directly affected) and susceptibility to new diseases.
What can we do to decrease carbon emissions and contribute to mitigate the impacts of climate change?You are the hope of Choco and ChipsDon’t let them down!
Daily actions that we can do:
- Take care of energy waste
- Decrease meat consumption, especially cattle meat
- Prioritize local agriculture
- Choose products from companies that are engaged in reducing carbon emission
- Diminish the use of cars (public transport, ride schemes or walking/bike in short distances).
References
References
Check the studies consulted to built this storyboard.
Fullscreen
- Callaghan, T.V., Johansson, M., Brown, R.D. et al. Multiple Effects of Changes in Arctic Snow Cover. AMBIO 40, 32–45 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-011-0213-x
- Miranda, I. Giska, I. Farelo, L., Pimenta, J., Zimova, M., Bryk, J., Dalén L., Mills, L.S., Zub K. & Melo-Ferreira, J. Museomics Dissects the Genetic Basis for Adaptive Seasonal Coloration in the Least Weasel, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Volume 38, Issue 10, October 2021, Pages 4388–4402, https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msab177
- Mills, L.S., Bragina, E.V., Kumar, A.V., Zimova, M., Lafferty, D.J., Feltner, J., Davis, B.M., Hackländer, K., Alves, P.C., Good, J.M. and Melo-Ferreira, J., 2018. Winter color polymorphisms identify global hot spots for evolutionary rescue from climate change. Science, 359(6379), pp.1033-1036. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan8097
- Peng, X., Zhang, T., Frauenfeld, O. W., Du, R., Jin, H., & Mu, C. (2021). A Holistic Assessment of 1979–2016 Global Cryospheric Extent. Earth’s Future, 9, e2020EF001969. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EF001969
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Climate Effects on Health. https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/default.htm
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The newest climate report looks grim. Here’s why we still have hope. https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/the-newest-climate-report-looks-grim-here-s-why-we-still-have-...
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Animals Affected by Climate Change. https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/fall-2015/articles/animals-affected-by-climate-change
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Less Snow, Less Health
Choco & Chips
Why are Choco brown and Chips white?
seasonal camouflage
There is a way!
Climate Change Impacts
You are the hope of Choco and Chips
References