Dear MEL Topic Readers,
The super-adaptable chimps that can withstand climate change
Not all chimpanzees are created equal.
The chimpanzee is a species of great ape native to the forest and savannah of tropical Africa. Chimpanzees show signs of intelligence, such as the ability to remember symbols, cooperation, tool use, recognition of themselves in a mirror, and perhaps language. Like early humans adapted to the changing environments, from ice ages to long periods of warmth, caves to buildings, hunting, and gathering to farming, chimpanzees also seem to have adapted to the new environments. Also, chimps that inhabit savannah expose themselves more to their predators, endure the harsh climate, and live with scarce resources while the ones in rainforests have abundant places to hide, hunt, and sleep in. Naturally, their behaviors are different. So, when global warming becomes global heating and causes floods, droughts, severer storms, and deforestation, they are likely to change their behaviors to adapt to their new environments or to migrate to more endurable habitats, if there are any left. But the narrower the gap from the present environment, the easier for chimps to adapt. The same sounds true to humans, doesn’t it?
Enjoy reading the article and think about which could adapt to the changing environments better, us, or our cousins.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200924-the-super-adaptable-chimps-that-can-withstand-climate-change
The super-adaptable chimps that can withstand climate change
Not all chimpanzees are created equal.
The chimpanzee is a species of great ape native to the forest and savannah of tropical Africa. Chimpanzees show signs of intelligence, such as the ability to remember symbols, cooperation, tool use, recognition of themselves in a mirror, and perhaps language. Like early humans adapted to the changing environments, from ice ages to long periods of warmth, caves to buildings, hunting, and gathering to farming, chimpanzees also seem to have adapted to the new environments. Also, chimps that inhabit savannah expose themselves more to their predators, endure the harsh climate, and live with scarce resources while the ones in rainforests have abundant places to hide, hunt, and sleep in. Naturally, their behaviors are different. So, when global warming becomes global heating and causes floods, droughts, severer storms, and deforestation, they are likely to change their behaviors to adapt to their new environments or to migrate to more endurable habitats, if there are any left. But the narrower the gap from the present environment, the easier for chimps to adapt. The same sounds true to humans, doesn’t it?
Enjoy reading the article and think about which could adapt to the changing environments better, us, or our cousins.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200924-the-super-adaptable-chimps-that-can-withstand-climate-change
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