Climate Change Threatens Arctic Reindeer Populations | JQJO

Arctic reindeer populations face a substantial decline due to climate change, with North American caribou at the highest risk. Researchers predict an 80% drop in caribou numbers by 2100 without significant emission reductions and conservation efforts. This decline, based on studies of past climate events and future projections, will have wider ecological consequences, impacting tundra plant diversity and carbon storage in Arctic soils. The study combined fossil data, ancient DNA, and computer models to make these projections.