Global warming is bad news for insects as rising temperature could negatively affect their ability to reproduce, according to a study released Tuesday by the University of Sheffield.
The conclusion of the study, led by researchers from the University of Sheffield, was based on the analysis of how fruit flies behave in the context of rising temperature. The team said that the findings will probably be the same for other insects.
The team found that if juvenile insects are exposed to mild heat, their chances of producing offspring in the adult stage will be negatively affected.
"The results show that even small increases in temperature may still cause (insect) populations to decline because -- while these insects don't die because of the mild heat -- they produce fewer offspring," said Rhonda Snook from the University of Sheffield, who is one of the authors of the study.
Meanwhile, the extent of such effect could vary in different regions.
Insects which evolve in high-latitude countries are more vulnerable to rising temperature, than those at low latitudes, according to the study.
The team is working to find out what genes differ between insects in countries at low and high latitudes, so that they can figure out why those at low latitudes cope better with the heat.
The study has been published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology.
