WASHINGTON - Animals and plants across the world are fleeing global warming by heading north much faster than they were less than a decade ago, a new study says.

About 2,000 species examined are moving away from the equator at an average rate of more than 15 feet per day, about a mile per year, according to new research published Thursday in the peer-reviewed journal Science that analyzed previous studies. Species are also moving up mountains to escape the heat, but more slowly, averaging about 4 feet a year.

The species - mostly from the Northern Hemisphere due to the available data - moved in fits and starts, but over several decades it averages to about 8 inches an hour away from the equator.

‘The speed is an important issue,’ said study main author Chris Thomas of the University of York. ‘It is faster than we thought.’

The study ‘indicates that many species may indeed be heading rapidly towards extinction, where climatic conditions are deteriorating,’ he said. ‘On the other hand, other species are moving to new areas where the climate has become suitable; so there will be some winners as well as many losers.’

The authors said the study is also the first showing […]