Max Dutro
Area of Interest:
Climate change is largely acknowledged by scientists as one of the biggest threats posed to animals. One result of climate change is global warming. Research shows that our earth is warming. Due to this scientists have studied the ways in which warmer climates will and have affected wildlife. Animals, like humans, have gut microbiomes composed of millions of different bacteria with a multitude of purposes from digestion to producing nutrients. Because of this, scientists have studied the ways in which the gut microbiome will respond to the many threats posed by climate change. One of these is the increasing temperatures caused by climate change. Since gut microbiomes mediate many physiological aspects of animals, it is important to understand how climate change and, specifically, warming temperatures will affect animal gut microbiomes. By answering this question, we can more accurately make predictions about climate change's imminent impact on animals, as well as work to develop ways in which to further our conservation efforts.