Model calculations predict a sea level rise of about one
meter by the end of this century and of up to five and a half meters by the
year 2500. Until now there are few
studies on the potential impacts of a rising sea level on biodiversity. Florian Wetzel and colleagues of the
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna together with Walter Jetz of Yale
University, USA have now published modelling results for the Southeast Asia and
Pacific regions. Their results show that
many terrestrial vertebrates are vulnerable to sea level rise and the risk of
extinction is highest for endemics found only on certain islands and already
endangered species. Their findings are
published online in the journal “Global Change Biology”.