The Effects Of Climate Change On Species

Climate change has affected us in many ways, but it was even more influential on organisms and their community. The Earth is gradually heating and we are left to deal with the consequences. Homes are being destroyed, organisms are dying, and resources are running low. Since 1880, Our Earth’s temperature had increased by about 0.8 degrees Celsius. Climate change is affecting the Earth and scientists say that one more degree will greatly affect people from all over the world. There are many consequences of climate change and each one has a great impact on all of us, but organisms’ homes are being destroyed and thousands of species are dying out. These organisms are imperative to our world and how it functions.

This climate change is having a major effect on the inhabitants of Earth. Specifically, the animals in the wild who don’t have a way to survive if their food source and habitat were to be taken away. One animal, among the many, that is already being affected is the red panda. The climate change is causing the red panda’s main food source to move out of the region and their typically cold climate to warm up. The red panda’s birth-to-death ratio is declining at an alarming rate that may cause the endangered animal to go into extinction. Red pandas are only being impacted negatively by the climate change.

Recently, there has been a warmer climate change, causing earth to get warmer, as well as negatively affecting earth, animals, and humans. Since 1880, the average temperature of earth has risen about 0.8 degrees celsius, which is a drastic change, even though it may not seem like much. Also, there has recently been a large amount of greenhouse gases being released, which is a large cause of why earth is getting warmer. Many consequences come with this change in climate. The fast-changing climate on earth has caused countless consequences that could permanently affect the earth.

Shifts in temperature and precipitation will be a shock to fragile ecosystems which depend on specific climatic conditions. Many species will be unable to adapt as fast as their environment changes and face sharply reduced numbers or extinction. Scientists estimate that a warming of just 2 degree will put as many as 30% of the world's species at risk of extinction. Plants and animals aren’t the only ones feeling the pressure of changing ecosystems. Many regions will face severe water shortages in a warmer world, creating the potential for conflict. It is believed that the genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region is at least in part a response to water shortages resulting from global warming.

The oceans have been part of the earth before mankind was even thought of. Greenhouse gas emissions are changing them for the worse. Ocean levels are rising because of the thermal expansion of warming oceans, according to IPCC, this rising can result in many floods across America (Michael). The rising of the ocean can have tragic effects on our economy, meaning that rising in water will result in less area for many shore side organisms. If that's not enough Climate Central predicts that 140-160 million houses and building will be below sea level in a century (Michael).

Climate change can results in animals and plants migrating north to escape the heat but in many cases suitable habitats became scare or even unavailable farther away from the species natural habitat. “Shannon Pelini, a graduate student at the University of Notre Dame conducted experiments revealing that warmer increased the survival ship and shape of caterpillar and most northern habitats.”As if the direct effects of rising temperature weren’t enough, climate change also has impacts that could make climate patterns less consistent over time. “Michael Notaro a scientist at the University of Wisconsin Madison used climate data from the past century model vegetation changes over time.” He found that variability in climates cause an increasing number and and intensity of fire and droughts, as well as extreme weather events like ice ages and even heat

Many animals that make up the communities are experiencing life changing shifts in survival tactics and health. Life cycle events are being altered by changing climates. Migration times are being shifted earlier in the year due to the heat changes. This can result in starvation of animals if there are not enough resources in the area when they arrive. Hibernation times are similar - if animals get out of hibernation too early, there is a chance that the amounts of food and other resources needed to survive could be decreased because the time of year is not right. Mating is being shifted as well, and this can cause eggs to hatch too early or infant deaths if the climate is not right when they are born. Some birds that lay eggs too early experience babies hatching with birth defects because of the heat. Breeding grounds can be destroyed, as necessary wetlands or cooler areas dry up, leaving numbers of certain species unable to produce. Food webs are also destroyed if lower bottom animals die off - this leads to starvation and dependant predators are unable to

One impact of climate change is rising seas levels. Sea levels will rise because when the Earth heats up, the warmer water expands shrinking shorelines; a process called thermal expansion. In addition, when glaciers melt the problem is twofold, the glaciers will release fresh water into the oceans, submerging low-lying land, threatening dense coastal populations, eroding shorelines, desecrating property, and exterminating ecosystems

Climate change is responsible for environmental changes in the world, such as rising ocean levels and increased global temperatures. Climate change is having more of an effect on the earth already than most people would believe. Looking at the animal populations on small islands reveals a decline in various species. In fact, due to human induced climate change a small mammal has gone extinct. What’s significant about this is that this is the first mammal to go extinct due to human induced climate change.

"We call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words” (Anna Sewell). There is undeniable evidence that animals are being affected by climate change. Even though the effects are difficult to measure, there are many different ways animals are being affected. With the loss of predator and prey species it affects the life cycles in the food chain. The earth’s climate change causes habitats such as snow, ice, or forest areas to alter, resulting in loss of habitat and food accessibility as well as causing extinction.

Thesis: According to National Geographic Average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit around the world since 1880 and by 2050, rising temperatures could send more than a million of Earth's land-dwelling plants and animals down the road to extinction.

These days we hear a lot about climate change and how we need to combat it. There is a lot of research that show that climate change is an ever presidenting issue on our planet. More specifically, the research shows how it is currently effecting our weather, environment and the animals in these environments. Animals more importantly are living creatures that need to be treated with respect because humans have a moral responsibility to protect the space they share. Humans are moral agents and animals are moral patients, which means that we need to care for them like we are their doctor and they are our patients. Let’s take a look at some specific animals that are being affected by climate change like the polar bear, tigers, and coral and how humans are helping them.

The average temperature is expected to rise over time. With the temperature slowly rising, icebergs are melting in Antarctica which is causing polar bears to have to move. Snow and ice cover has been decreasing a lot already. Sea levels are also rising, if sea levels are rising that can cause floods. More and more floods, droughts, and heat waves have been occurring more than one hundred years ago. With all of these natural disasters happening more often, the human race is having

Climate change is one of the biggest problems the whole world is collectively facing. Even though climate change is partially caused by the natural cycles of Earth, humans I think are still a major part of it and I think that we can do more to protect the environment that we live in. Climate change happens when temperatures increase dramatically. When climate change causes temperature rises many environmental problems can occur here on earth . Temperatures rising can result in more floods, droughts, or flooding rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves which can cause wildfires. Oceans and the Antarctic Ice Glaciers have also experienced changes in oceans that are rising temperatures and are becoming more acidic. The Antarctic ice glaciers are melting and sea levels are rising destroying many habitats along the ice glaciers such as penguins and polar bears. As these changes frequently occur in future decades, they will likely present challenges to our society and environment.

Climate change is one of the major issues surfacing earth over the past century. The earth’s temperature has increased over the years leading to detrimental effects on the economic and life sources of people, especially that of agricultural production and livestock. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary (2014), defined climate change as a change in global climate patterns apparent from the mid late 20th century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, (2007) predicts that by 2100 the increase in global average surface temperature may be between 1.8° C and 4.0° C. With increases of 1.5° C to 2.5° C, approximately 20 to 30 percent of plant and animal species are expected to be at risk of extinction. Moreover, the IPCC (2007)