Climate change is changing habitats worldwide. Many animal and plant species adapt accordingly to the rising temperatures. So also the African wild dogs (Lycaon Pictus). The predators get their offspring about three weeks later than 30 years ago. In the long term, however, the wild dogs could harm more than shooters: higher temperatures after their birth are difficult for the young animals. Briana Abrahms from the University of Washington in Seattle and her research team in the specialist magazine "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" report this.
The researchers evaluated data from 60 packs native to northern Botswana that had been collected between 1989 and 2020. It turned out that the offspring of dogs was born later and later – on average about a week per decade. Towards the end of the observation period, the African wild dogs gave birth to their young on average 22 days later than at the beginning. Thus, despite the overall rising temperatures, the puppies were born on the cool winter days that were optimal for them.
However, the delayed births brought a new problem with them, as the researchers stated that the cold days quickly followed warm months. Within the observation period, the daily maximum temperatures rose by a total of 1.6 degrees, the annual maximum temperatures by 3.8 degrees. As a result, fewer dog puppies survived the first phase of life that is sensitive to them.
African wild dogs are sensitive to temperature differences. They have synchronized the period of their reproduction with the coldest winter days. So far, the best weather conditions for a successful hunt have prevailed in the following period, on which the survival of the puppies depends. The young animals require a lot of energy in the first three months.
It is to be seen whether and how much their behavioral change harms African wild dogs in the long run. The species is already considered to be endangered, its population continuously decreases. This trend could continue with increasing temperatures.
