WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE: A DEVELOPMENTAL AND EVOLUTIONARY ZOOLOGY PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

 Climate change poses unprecedented challenges to global biodiversity, with profound implications for wildlife conservation. This study explores the issue through a developmental and evolutionary zoology perspective, highlighting how species’ survival depends on both immediate phenotypic plasticity and long-term evolutionary adaptation. Using a mixed-methods framework that integrated ecological field surveys, genetic diversity analyses, and developmental trait monitoring, the research demonstrates that species responses to climate change are mediated by interactions between environment, life-history traits, and genetic capacity for adaptation. Results indicate that developmental plasticity provides short-term resilience, particularly in traits such as growth rate, reproduction, and behavioral flexibility. However, the persistence of species under rapid climatic change ultimately depends on evolutionary processes including genetic variability, allelic diversity, and adaptive selection. Tables and figures reveal significant distributional shifts, mortality during extreme events, and conservation outcomes across taxa, while modeling demonstrates that populations with higher functional diversity are more resilient. The findings underscore the importance of eco-evo-devo frameworks for conservation planning, emphasizing that safeguarding biodiversity requires both preserving habitats and maintaining evolutionary potential. The study concludes that conservation policies must integrate genetic monitoring, connectivity strategies, and adaptive management to foster resilience. By uniting developmental biology, evolutionary theory, and ecological practice, this research contributes a holistic paradigm for wildlife conservation in the Anthropocene.