Xinghao Li , Jia Xuan

Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 2   doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2024.14.0011
Received: 24 Feb., 2024    Accepted: 30 Mar., 2024    Published: 26 Apr., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Li X.H., and Xuan J., 2024, Predicting the future of reptile diversity under climate change scenarios, International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 14(2): 91-103 (doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2024.14.0011)

This study aims to evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on global reptile diversity and explore conservation strategies and management measures. By analyzing reptile distribution prediction models under different climate change scenarios, we found that climate change will lead to significant changes in reptile habitats, affecting their physiology and behavior. Key research indicates that reptiles in tropical, temperate, and arid regions will face varying degrees of habitat loss and distribution range changes, with species that have high habitat specificity and limited migration capacity being particularly affected. By utilizing species distribution models (SDMs) and climate envelope models, we predicted the potential habitat changes for various reptiles under future climate conditions. This study emphasizes the importance of long-term monitoring and data collection, identifies knowledge gaps in current research, and suggests the use of advanced technologies and methods, such as remote sensing, genetic analysis, and citizen science, to better understand and respond to the impacts of climate change on reptiles. Additionally, the study discusses the role of international agreements and national policies in conserving reptile diversity, advocating for enhanced global cooperation and interdisciplinary research to develop more effective conservation measures. Through these comprehensive approaches, we can enhance the resilience of reptile populations and ensure their survival and development in the context of climate change.

Climate change; Reptile diversity; Climate envelope models; Genetic analysis