Stressed reptiles pay the metabolic price of war.

During the Israel-Hamas war, researchers conducted a study on the physiological effects of repeated bombings on reptiles. The study focused on the elegant short-fingered gecko and found that their metabolic rates were 2.3 times higher immediately after explosions compared to before. The increased metabolic costs indicate an acute stress response, which could deplete energy stores and negatively impact fitness. The study highlights the far-reaching effects of armed conflicts on biodiversity conservation and calls for armed forces to consider conservation issues during training. [Extracted from the article]