🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Species confined to high elevations are often considered particularly vulnerable to climate change.
The Tapanuli orangutan inhabits upland forests that already reach significant elevations. Climate change may shift vegetation zones upslope over time. Species restricted to high elevations often face range compression as suitable habitat moves upward. In the Batang Toru ecosystem, available higher terrain is limited. With fewer than 800 individuals confined to this mountainous region, migration options are constrained. Unlike wide-ranging species, relocation across vast landscapes is impossible. Climate-driven habitat shifts therefore present a compounding threat. Elevation both defines and restricts their refuge.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Mountain species often experience a phenomenon known as the escalator effect, where warming forces them upward until habitat runs out. For a species already geographically restricted, this compression is severe. Habitat contraction may occur even without deforestation. Climate pressure adds another layer to existing fragmentation.
Protecting intact forest across elevation gradients enhances resilience. Conservation must consider not just current habitat but future climate envelopes. The Tapanuli orangutan’s survival may depend on maintaining continuous forest from lower to higher slopes. Without vertical refuge, adaptation options narrow sharply.
💬 Comments