Climate change effects on wild life
Introduction
In the times of the climate change being the top question on world’s agenda, we really need to start considering the consequences of these shifts not only for ourselves, but also for those, who might not be able to adapt to such changes. Various results of climate change will affect the wild life in different and maybe unexpected ways. Even before our society was concerned about the issue of global warming, animals had already been reacting by behaving differently, changing their life style, moving away to new areas, or simply perishing due to their inability survive the changes.
Climate change effects on wild life
During this time some of the most common “ecological changes include: transformation and shift of habitats and ranges, which includes the transformation of sea ice and wetlands, loss of coastal habitats, because of the constantly rising sea levels due to sea level rise, with climate ranges of many species moving toward cooler temperatures; constantly rising temperatures of air and water, which will affect most of marine and terrestrial species; and time shifts of breeding and flowering that can be commonly met across the globe” (Pervaze, CRS-3).
It's amazing and tragic to watch a relatively small temperature rise disturbing the whole chain of wild life. Because of the rapidly changing climate conditions, a lot of birds are moving their annual migration season by three weeks, and in North America some birds start lying eggs a week earlier than it used to be in the past, an action that endangers their young. The temperature rise is also bad for butterflies, as it makes them move northward, while also distracting the balance between the life cycle of butterflies and the season for plants to grow and flower (the thing that the caterpillars and adult butterflies depend on), which can lead to crashes and contractions in butterfly’s population.
If temperatures continue to go up, some fish will not be able to live in the overheated waters, thus will be moving in search for cooler waters. Among such species salmon can be found; this particular species requires cold, fast-flowing waters for spawning, and now there is less of such water remaining, as there are less stream flows because of less snowmelt. As a result, gray whales and walruses near Alaska will not be finding enough of traditional prey they usually depend on.
Because of a “slight temperature shift, tens of thousands of penguins have already died, no longer being able to reach their breeding grounds, as sea “ice does not longer extend far enough into the sea” (EPA, 84). Also dependant on sea ice, polar bears are now not able to hunt seals and are forced to spend time on land in hunger, or drown at sea looking for food” (Allsopp, 6-16).
Another species that is greatly affected by the current situation is the sea turtle, which “reproduction mechanism greatly depends on the slightest temperature changes. The problem is that turtles lay their eggs in sand for incubation period, and the temperature of the sand determines the sex of the young (thus cooler sand will produce males, while warmer sand will produce females, therefore the great temperature change will produce one sex young only, which is completely unacceptable); some of the turtles rely on corals that greatly suffer themselves, because of the climate change” (Deneen).
Conclusion
We can say for sure that the climate change issue is of the greatest importance and threat that humanity has ever faced before. People will probably be able to survive and adapt to changing conditions, while wild life will probably not be able to do so. Thus, in order to save any animal life on Earth in the future, we need to start planning protected areas that will ensure species’ survival.
Works cited
EPA. Climate Change Indicators in the United States. Web United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012. Web. 22 June. 2013. http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/pdfs/climateindicators-full-2012.pdf
Deneen, Sally. "Wildlife." The Daily Green. Print.
Hofmeister, Erick. "Climate Change and Wildlife Health: Direct and Indirect Effects." USGS science for a changing world (2010). Web. 25 Oct. 2013. <http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/fact_sheets/pdfs/Climate_Change_and_Wildlife_Health.pdf>.
Allsopp, Michelle. "Climate Change Impacts on Arctic Wildlife." Greenpeace Research (2012). Web. 25 Oct. 2013. <http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/climate/2012/Arctic/420-ArcticWildlife.pdf>.
Pervaze, Sheikh. Global Climate Change and Wildlife. Congressional research service, 2007. Web. 25 Oct. 2013. <http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/80675.pdf>.
