CIBIO- Porto researchers study climate change impact in Amazonia

The renowned magazine "Science Advances", published an article on the crucial role of climate in the bird diversity of Amazonia and pinpoints the southeast region of this biome as the most vulnerable to climate change. These were the findings of a study carried out by an international team that integrates researchers of the CIBIO-Centre for Research in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of Porto.

For the first time, data from Amazonian bird species were collected and over 6 thousand registrations and genetic data were assessed to studying climate change impact in this part of the world.

"We wanted to elaborate a more complex model in this study that would enable the explanation of divergences observed in previous studies. To doing this, we have studied different bird species, endemic in different regions in the Amazonia, and we have assessed that the impact of landscape and climate changes of the past would be connected with the emergence of these different species", explains Sofia Silva, CIBIO-InBIO researcher and the first author of the scientific article.

In fact, the researchers warn that the southeast region of Amazonia, which is historically the most vulnerable to climate changes, is today the most threatened by deforestation. According to the researchers, it is most likely that this can lead to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, which are important to the entire planet.

Besides CIBIO-InBIO, the study involved nine other organizations, including the Luomus Finnish Museum of Natural History and the University of Helsinki, Finland.