Species that live on mountain tops are more prone to extinction due to climatic
warming. This is because:
They are all long-lived, and adapting to these changes in climate is not possible.
Mountain tops have small areas, and species cannot shift their distributions
upwards.
Mountains are eroding over time and mountaintops are physically unstable.
Mountain tops have low oxygen and adapting to both increased temperature
and low oxygen is not possible.

Here’s a detailed, SEO-optimized academic explanation of this ecology question. The article covers each option, provides the correct answer, and includes all necessary SEO elements: title, meta description, slug, and focus key phrase — tailored for search engine optimization in the life sciences niche.

Introduction:

Climate warming poses a severe threat to biodiversity across the globe, but species that inhabit mountain tops are particularly vulnerable. The unique topography, limited habitat area, and temperature sensitivity of these species make them especially susceptible to extinction. In this article, we’ll explore in detail why mountain top species are more prone to extinction due to climatic warming, analyzing each possible reason with ecological logic.

Understanding the Question:

The question asks why species that live on mountain tops are more prone to extinction due to climatic warming. Let’s evaluate each of the given options carefully to determine the correct explanation.

Option A: They are all long-lived, and adapting to these changes in climate is not possible.

This statement is incorrect.
While being long-lived can slow evolutionary adaptation, it is not the primary reason for extinction vulnerability in mountain species. The key issue is not lifespan, but the lack of available space or direction to migrate as climate warms. Many long-lived species in other ecosystems can survive if they can migrate or shift their range. Hence, longevity alone does not lead to extinction due to climate warming.

Option B: Mountain tops have small areas, and species cannot shift their distributions upwards.

This statement is correct and represents the best answer.
Mountain ecosystems are naturally limited in area, and the higher you go, the smaller the available habitat becomes — forming what is often called a “sky island.”
As global temperatures rise, mountain species attempt to move to higher, cooler elevations to maintain their thermal comfort zones. However, beyond the summit, there is no higher ground to migrate to. This leads to “mountain-top extinction,” also known as range contraction, where suitable climate space disappears entirely.

Thus, limited upward space and habitat isolation make mountain-top species highly vulnerable to extinction under climate warming.

Option C: Mountains are eroding over time and mountaintops are physically unstable.

This statement is incorrect in the context of climate-related extinction.
Although mountain erosion is a real geological process, it occurs over millions of years — far too slow to explain extinction due to contemporary climatic warming. The instability of mountaintops does not directly cause rapid extinction; instead, climate-induced temperature shifts are the faster and more critical factor.

Option D: Mountain tops have low oxygen and adapting to both increased temperature and low oxygen is not possible.

This statement is partially true but not the main reason for climate-linked extinction.
Mountain environments indeed have low oxygen (hypoxia), and physiological adaptations are needed to survive there. However, these species are already well adapted to such conditions. The issue lies not in coping with low oxygen but in the lack of cooler habitats to escape rising temperatures. Thus, oxygen limitation is not the driver of extinction caused by climate change.

Ecological Explanation:

As temperature increases, species tend to shift their habitat ranges poleward or upward.
For mountain species, the “thermal envelope” shifts upward — but mountaintops have limited or no space beyond the summit, leading to a habitat trap. This process is called “elevational squeeze.”
Over time, this spatial limitation, combined with low dispersal capability and ecological specialization, greatly increases extinction risks.

Correct Answer:

Mountain tops have small areas, and species cannot shift their distributions upwards.

Conclusion:

Species that live on mountain tops face higher extinction risks because they have no higher elevation to migrate to when climate warms. Their restricted habitat area and isolation prevent adaptation or movement, making them one of the most sensitive indicators of climate change in ecological studies.