--- description: Research published in PLOS Biology suggests that nearly half of the species that attempt a move wind up extinct in that area title: Climate Change Causes Extinction in Many Ecosystems image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltadd484f33bdffe5e/6988b257524fc0fecbdfa7b0/rainforest-extinction-climate-change.jpeg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Science](/section/science/) ## Science Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [climate change](/tag/climate-change/) ## climate change Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # How Climate Change Is Leading to an 'Ecological Recession'  by [Justin Worland](/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Dec 8, 2016 7:13 PM CUT  Fiji crested iguana on rainforest vine Fiji crested iguana on rainforest vineAuscape—Getty Images/Universal Images Group  by [Justin Worland](/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Dec 8, 2016 7:13 PM CUT Scientists have published a number of studies observing how plants and animals shift their range slightly toward cooler temperatures in response to global warming. The hope is that even as the global warms, wildlife may be able to adapt simply by moving. But new [research](http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2001104 "undefined") published in the journal _PLOS Biology_ suggests that nearly half of the species that attempt such a move wind up extinct in that area, unable to adapt fully to a new habitat. The results suggest that moving habitats may not be an effective adaptation method in the coming decades as the Earth continues to warm by several multiples of what has already occurred, researchers behind the study say. The scientists found a pattern of extinction across a wide variety of climate and habitats, though the phenomenon harms some areas more than others. Tropical species are among the hardest hit with 55% facing local extinction following a move compared to just 39% of their counterparts in temperate environments, according the study. **Read More:** [Why Restoring Nature Could Be the Key to Fighting Climate Change](http://time.com/4070683/nature-climate-change/ "undefined") Humans may be harming the ability of species to adjust beyond causing the planet to warm, the study says. Agriculture, man-made structures and other urban developments remove potential habitats and block potential paths to disperse. The study joins a growing list of [research](http://time.com/4476487/conservation-earth-protected-land-biodiversity/ "undefined") across the globe showing a decline in biodiversity, a measure of the different plant and animal species in a given area. A study published in the journal _Science_ earlier this year found that biodiversity has fallen to unsustainable levels across more than half of the world’s surface. **Read More:** [Nearly 15% of Earth’s Land Is Now Protected — but That’s Not Enough](http://time.com/4476487/conservation-earth-protected-land-biodiversity/ "undefined") Researchers say the collapse of local ecosystems due to biodiversity loss is about more than just saving animals. Ecosystems support humans in a variety of ways from pollination and pest control necessary for agriculture. Trees and plants also hold carbon dioxide that would [otherwise contribute](http://time.com/4070683/nature-climate-change/ "undefined") to climate change. “Decision-makers worry a lot about economic recessions,” [said](http://time.com/4404981/biodiversity-study-human-welfare/ "undefined") author Andy Purvis, a professor at the Natural History Museum in London, earlier this year. “But an ecological recession could have even worse consequences—and the biodiversity damage we’ve had means we’re at risk of that happening.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4595361/climate-change-extinction-animals/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4595361/climate-change-extinction-animals/"},"headline":"How Climate Change Is Leading to an 'Ecological Recession'","datePublished":"2016-12-08T19:13:23.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T02:12:53.944Z","description":"Species can't adapt in time","url":"https://time.com/4595361/climate-change-extinction-animals/","keywords":["climate change","Environment","animals"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltadd484f33bdffe5e/6988b257524fc0fecbdfa7b0/rainforest-extinction-climate-change.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Justin Worland","jobTitle":"Senior Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/justin-worland/"}],"articleSection":"Science","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltadd484f33bdffe5e/6988b257524fc0fecbdfa7b0/rainforest-extinction-climate-change.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"rainforest extinction climate change","caption":"rainforest extinction climate change","creditText":"Auscape—Getty Images/Universal Images Group","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/science/","name":"Science"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/climate-change/","name":"climate change"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4595361/climate-change-extinction-animals/","name":"How Climate Change Is Leading to an 'Ecological Recession'"}}]}] ```