Science Cover Article: The Extinction Crisis at the Top of the Mountains

The journal 《Science》 published a cover article stating that climate change is causing high-altitude ecosystems to face a severe extinction crisis. The study shows that rising temperatures force alpine plants and animals to migrate to higher altitudes, but the summit areas lack suitable habitats, leading to habitat fragmentation and a sharp reduction in population numbers. If the global temperature rise exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius, approximately 40% of high-altitude endemic species will lose their living spaces. The research team calls on the international community to take immediate action to establish a network of high-altitude biodiversity conservation areas to mitigate this irreversible ecological disaster.