Six new species of wētā discovered at the bottom of the South Island could be extinct within a generation due to climate change, an expert is warning. Mount Edgar Thomson, Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park Photo (Source: rnz.co.nz)Massey University professor Steven Trewick told RNZ Afternoons the wētā, which live in extreme alpine conditions, the species are only only found above the tree line. And those sorts of distinctive conditions that allow people to go skiing in the winter.”These Alpine newly-discovered species can freeze, he said. “We're describing these species, but now we can, sit back and watch them go extinct within a lifetime. “The realistic scenario for climate change is much more harsh, because as the IPCC told everyone a couple of weeks ago, we actually haven't done the things we promised that we were going to do.”ADVERTISEMENTIf Alpine creatures go, it’s a barometer of the impacts of climate change, he says.

Source: Stuff April 27, 2022 18:02 UTC