Question

Climate change is expected to affect tropical and temperate species differently. Select the statement that best describes which type of species is more at risk, and why.

A.) Tropical species, because they have a narrow performance curve with a small thermal safety margin
B.) Tropical species, because they have a broad performance curve with a large thermal safety margin
C.) Temperate species, because they have a narrow performance curve with a small thermal safety margin
D.) Temperate species, because they have a broad performance curve with a large thermal safety margin

Answer 1

Tropical species are more at risk because they have a narrow performance curve with a small thermal safety margin.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that best describes which type of species is more at risk due to climate change is:

A.) Tropical species, because they have a narrow performance curve with a small thermal safety margin

Tropical species are more at risk because they have a narrow performance curve with a small thermal safety margin. This means that they are highly specialized to function within a specific temperature range, and even a small increase in temperature could have detrimental effects on their survival and reproduction.

In contrast, temperature species (B.) have a broad performance curve with a large thermal safety margin, allowing them to tolerate a wider range of temperatures. This makes them less vulnerable to the temperature changes associated with climate change.