14 Surprising Connections Between Sloths and Climate Change: A Must-Read for Environmentalists

2. Canopy Microclimate Sensitivity

Sloths and forest canopy microclimates provide important new insights on how climate change is impacting tropical forest ecosystems. Spending much of their life in the canopy layer, sloths depend on particular temperature and humidity levels to survive. Recent studies have shown how slowness behavior and habitat usage patterns are being changed by variations in these microclimate conditions due by global warming. Seeking ideal temperature zones when conventional habitats became too warm, scientists have seen sloths traveling to various heights within the canopy more often than in past decades. This behavioral adaptation forecasts future effects on tropical forest biodiversity and offers important information on how arboreal species react to climate change.