Climate change could cause mass extinctions: report

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Oct 24, 2007, 14:46 GMT

(FILE) A report has predicted the rise in global temperature for the next century could trigger mass extinctions.EPA/ANSA

(M&C) - A British report has predicted the predicted rise in global temperature for the next century could trigger mass extinctions.

Researchers from the University of York have said the range of temperatures are within the ranges of greenhouse phases in the early stages of the Earth's development when around 95 percent of the planet's plants and animals died out.

They discovered the five major areas of decline in species correspond with recurring cycles of global warming.

Dr Peter Mayhew of the University of York said, "Our results provide the first clear evidence that global climate may explain substantial variation in the fossil record in a simple and consistent manner."

"If our results hold for current warming, the magnitude of which is comparable with the long-term fluctuations in the Earth's climate, they suggest that extinctions will increase," he added.

Dr Mayhew told BBC News that "we could well be experiencing that in the next century - only a few human generations down the line. We need to know why temperatures and extinctions are linked in this way."

The research is published in "Proceedings of the Royal Society".