Adapting to extreme climates: raising animals in hot and arid ecosystems in Australia

Int J Biometeorol. 2015 May;59(5):541-50. doi: 10.1007/s00484-014-0867-8. Epub 2014 Jul 13.

Abstract

This paper provides an analysis of adaptation to extreme climate changes using the Australian animal husbandry data. The paper finds that farmers have adapted to a hot and arid climate regime through animal husbandry. The number of sheep vastly increases into arid ecosystems while the number of beef cattle does not decline in high temperatures. In the future climate system in which Australia becomes hotter and more arid, we predict that farmers will increase by large percentages the numbers of beef cattle and/or sheep owned in order to adapt to a highly unfavorable climate condition, especially into the arid ecosystems. This paper shows how humanity has adapted to climate extremes taking into account changing ecosystems.

MeSH terms

  • Acclimatization / physiology*
  • Animal Husbandry / methods*
  • Animals
  • Australia
  • Climate Change*
  • Desert Climate*
  • Ecosystem*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Livestock / growth & development*