Effect of GCC on Distribution of Rodents in Texas

To predict the impact of climate change on the rodent population, the study collected material from databases on rodent species distribution, used climate models to map the temperature and precipitation rates in Texas under conditions of twice the amount of CO2 as averaged now, and also used vegetation models to predict vegetation changes under such conditions. Next the study compared the current species distribution to the predicted distribution under “2 x CO2” conditions using the Holdridge model of vegetation distribution. Extinction of a species was only predicted when the conditions of “2 x CO2” allowed no suitable habitat for the specific animal. The overall theory of the case was that vegetation is influenced by climate change, and rodent species depends on finding suitable habitats. The results were that two rodent species (Oryzomys cousei and Microtus mexicanus) seem likely to become extinct under “2 x CO2” conditions. The habitats for these two specific species would not be “predicted to occur” by the model. The study predicts new types of vegetation would occur under the “2 x CO2” conditions and that most species of rodents would adapt. However, the actual impact on rodent distribution depends on if the climate becomes drier or wetter; if climate becomes warmer, rodent species will more than likely decrease for the most part, because forests will decrease and the species will have difficulties adapting to new types of vegetation. If the climate were to become wetter, forest growth would expand, and rodent species population would increase.