Research indicates that lowland tropical insects are already living close to their maximum thermal limits, making them vulnerable to climate change. A study examining nearly 2,300 tropical insect species found a strong link between heat tolerance and protein melting temperatures, suggesting this trait is deeply rooted in insect DNA and unlikely to evolve rapidly enough to keep pace with current climate change.
In the Amazon lowland, researchers estimate that half of the insect community could disappear under projected increases in surface and air temperatures. This loss could have significant cascading consequences for the ecosystem. For example, dung beetles, crucial recyclers and nutrient providers, are already experiencing reduced diversity at lower elevations due to high temperatures.
While highland insects may possess some capacity to temporarily buffer higher temperatures through cellular mechanisms, lowland species appear to have reached their physiological ceiling. This lack of adaptability, combined with limited options for behavioral escape from heat, suggests that evolutionary adaptation may not be sufficient to prevent range shifts and potential extinctions.
Source: Down To Earth