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Dear #squirreltwitter, do you want to know how #squirrels cope with climatic changes? A thread about my last publication in Mammal Review 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mam.12215
#GoNuts #ClimateChange @Mammal_Society
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mam.12215
#GoNuts #ClimateChange @Mammal_Society
The #Sciuridae family has almost 300 species living in very different environments 
in the world 
#SquirrelsOfTheWorld
in the world #SquirrelsOfTheWorld
Species living in one specific environment are sensitive to habitat destruction, which increases the probabilities of #extinction. But, for the same reason, probabilities of generating new species due to isolation of populations become higher in these species
Meanwhile, species capable of living in a wide variety of environments are less sensitive to #climateChanges. These species survive for longer periods, even millions of years.
For example, the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) is very resilient to environmental changes. Although the current rate of deforestation resulting from human activities could put the species at risk. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/photo-ark/animal/petaurista-philippensis/
Squirrels present in North America have shown more speciation events, leading to numerous species of #chipmunks, #marmots, #prairiedogs and other ground squirrels
#UnitedSquirrelsOfAmerica #squirrelarmy
#UnitedSquirrelsOfAmerica #squirrelarmy
These species could have expanded across North America following the expansion of #grasslands, and produced numerous species in this new environment (this is also proposed for the evolution of horses in North America!)
#Squirrels were arboreal in their origin. The adaptation to terrestrial life allowed them to exploit this new niche. For that reason, we obtained high speciation rates for ground squirrels when comparing them with arboreal and flying squirrels #GoGroundSquirrels
Also, #Squirrels inhabiting mountain regions
show high rates of speciation. During warming events, populations of one species get isolated in the mountain tops, which could lead to different species if this is maintained long enough
show high rates of speciation. During warming events, populations of one species get isolated in the mountain tops, which could lead to different species if this is maintained long enough
Nevertheless, the current anthropogenic #ClimateChange and #Deforestation could produce the loss of great part of the squirrel’s diversity, particularly of those climatically restricted and tropical species.
If you want to know more you can access the paper here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/mam.12215
