Global warming puts ibexes at serious risk. This was highlighted by research from the University of Sassari, which showed that this alpine animal becomes more nocturnal in response to the heat both in areas where wolves are present (in the Gran Paradiso National Park) and in areas where the predator is not yet there (Swiss National Park). From a thermal point of view, the need to live in ideal conditions is more important than the risk of being preyed upon. This could also mean that climate change - in the long run - could be really dangerous not only for ibexes but also for other species poorly adapted to higher temperatures. The response of this ungulate, which moves to less suitable areas with the warmer weather, increasing nocturnal activity and accepting a greater risk of predation, could also be enacted by other typically diurnal species. Such changes would imply worsening living conditions and increased predation risk, as these species evolved to be active during the day. The study showed that the increase in nocturnal activity in relation to temperature is similar in both males and females, although the latter weigh about half as much as males and have significantly smaller antlers, thus facing a higher risk of predation.
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