100+ Australian Birds Adapt Physically to Climate Change

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As temperatures rise, more than 78 bird species in Australia have larger beaks and smaller bodies.

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Long-term shorebird monitoring data and museum specimens were employed in the study.

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Although larger beaks aid in heat dissipation, they can also be detrimental in extremely hot or cold weather.

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Habitats such as the river-fringing vegetation used by purple-crowned fairy-wrens are at risk due to climate change.

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Sixty-two percent of important purple-crowned fairy-wren habitats could be destroyed by a 2°C warming.

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More habitats for endangered species are preserved when warming is kept to 1.5°C.

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The study collected data from over 100,000 birds and 3D scans of over 5000 museum artifacts.

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Different species have different physical adaptations; some may adapt well while others may find it difficult.

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Stricter climate action on fossil fuels is necessary to meet Australia's 2035 Paris Agreement targets.

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