70 years of heat waves and summer climate change affecting Italian small ruminant populations
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2024
Citazione:
70 years of heat waves and summer climate change affecting Italian small ruminant populations / A. Bionda, M. Cortellari, A. Negro, P. Crepaldi. - In: PASTORALISM. - ISSN 2041-7136. - 14:(2024 May 30), pp. 12848.1-12848.15. [10.3389/past.2024.12848]
Abstract:
Climate change and heat stress pose significant challenges to livestock. Local
breeds, particularly small ruminants, are gaining importance due to their
adaptability to harsh climates. However, the extensive system they are
commonly reared in leaves them exposed to the effects of climate change.
This study aims to describe the distribution and climate-related challenges
faced by registered Italian sheep and goat breeds over the past seven decades.
Geolocalized data from all registered small ruminant farms were combined with
climatic information retrieved from the “ERA-5-Land hourly data from 1950 to
present” dataset. These data were used to calculate average daily temperature,
temperature humidity index (THI), and total precipitation during summer.
Additionally, THI-based heat waves (HWs) were examined, including the
yearly number of HW days and mean THI during HW days. These data were
analysed through linear regression models including region or breed, year, and
their interaction as fixed factors. The climate data indicate a concerning trend of
rising summer temperatures, THI, and HW frequency and intensity, particularly
over the past three decades. Central-northern Italy, including the Po Valley and
the Alpine Arch, is the most affected region, impacting breeds like Rosset and
Brogne sheep, and Lariana and Frisa Valtellinese goats. This is of particular
concern because these populations have not been selected for hot climates,
and their already small population size exacerbates the problem. Conversely,
southern Italy, characterized by hotter and drier temperatures, remained
relatively stable. Breeds from this region, such as Girgentana and Nicastrese
goats and Nera di Arbus sheep, might represent excellent case studies for
climatic adaptation and potential resources for selection for resilience in the
face of ongoing climate changes. The findings presented here are essential for
the development of monitoring and intervention strategies for breeds facing
future vulnerabilities, as well as for designing experiments to explore
environmental adaptability in small ruminants.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
goats; sheep; local breeds; climate change; heat waves
Elenco autori:
A. Bionda, M. Cortellari, A. Negro, P. Crepaldi
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