Scientists in London, United Kingdom have conducted a study that suggests all species on Earth appear to thrive at an “optimal” 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). This study confirms that the temperature ranges of animals, plants, and microbes living both in air and water overlap at 20C, indicating its significance for biodiversity.
The research indicates that temperatures above 20C become increasingly suboptimal for all domains of life, including animals, plants, and prokaryotes. This pivotal temperature seems to affect the efficiency of biological processes due to the molecular properties of water in cells. As temperatures rise, the efficiency of chemical processes inside cells increases, reaches a maximum, and then declines rapidly when it gets too hot.
In a warming world, creatures that are unable to move to more comfortable temperatures may struggle more to adapt. Marine species have the ability to adapt by altering their geographical distribution, but land species might not have the same luxury due to human infrastructures like cities and farming that modify landscapes.
Consistently experiencing temperatures above 20C could lead to a decline in species richness of landscapes, as well as potential extinctions as seen in fossil records. This evidence adds to the growing understanding that biodiversity already reducing above 20 degrees will be further compounded by global warming.
Researchers warn that this would lead to a “simplification” of ecosystems with fewer life forms existing in many places, as well as more competition among existing species that could restrict habitats even further. This study suggests that the effects of temperature on species adaptation and biodiversity could have significant implications for ecosystems around the world.