Organismic Responses to Climate Change - Essay Example

Essay Lab Section Due Organismic Responses to Climate Change In what major ways does climate change affect populations ofanimal and plant species?The Polar bear in the modern world remains to be a symbol of the effects of climate change to the natural world. Apart from the polar bear, there is a vast number of both plant and animal species diversely affected. The essay therefore will summarizes ten animal species that are directly affected by climate change both on land in in the aquatic environment (Doney, Scott , Mary, Emmett, James, Francis, Chad, Heather et al, 2012, p 13).

The region of coverage, where the animal’s cohabitate, range from the polar ice caps to the African deserts.Straghorn corals are highly affected by the impacts and effects that result from high sea temperatures and the increased acidification that may affect the ocean waters as an effect of the climate change. These corals therefore experience bleaching and contract diseases, which in most cases often lead to their death (Parmesan, Camille, Michael, Carlos, Elvira, Anthony, David, and Michael, 2013, p 59).

The Ringed Seal face challenges f reproduction because of climate change. This is due to the melting of the ice blocks that are their habitats and their breeding paces. This particular effect of climate change is majorly experienced in the Arctic region environment (Doney, Scott , Mary, Emmett, James, Francis, Chad, Heather et al, 2012, p 21).The leatherback turtle are also highly affected by the increased sand temperatures that distorts the egg incubation period hence leading to a lower male population being hatched.

Moreover, their natural habitat where the turtles nest on the beaches is washed away due to the increase and rise in the seal levels, high and increased ocean and air temperatures (Parmesan, Camille, Michael, Carlos, Elvira, Anthony, David, and Michael, 2013, p 60). Emperor penguins are highly affected by the rise in the sea temperatures and melting ice blocks. It therefore makes it difficult for them to get food and disrupts their breeding patterns. It therefore can contribute to their gradual extinction environment (Doney, Scott , Mary, Emmett, James, Francis, Chad, Heather et al, 2012, p 25).

Quiver Trees are highly affected by the extreme drought incidents, which majorly affects the equator parts where they are distributed. There population is gradually decreasing. These species of plants therefore becomes a representation of plants and other vegetation that struggle to keep up with the accelerated effects of climate change (Parmesan, Camille, Michael, Carlos, Elvira, Anthony, David, and Michael, 2013, p 60). The habitats of Clownfish, which are coral reefs, face great danger and threat since they risk not benefiting from the symbiotic relationship that exists with the anemones.

These anemones also protect the coral reefs. The degradation of coral reefs, the increase in the acidity content of the oceans waters and the warming nature of the oceans are a result of the impact of climate change on the aquatic life environment (Doney, Scott , Mary, Emmett, James, Francis, Chad, Heather et al, 2012, p 19).The Arctic Foxe risk losing their habitants and facing predation and competition from Red Foxes. The population cycles of their prey constantly alters. It therefore represents the alterations because of the disruptive effects of interactions among the species (Parmesan, Camille, Michael, Carlos, Elvira, Anthony, David, and Michael, 2013, p 63).

The freshwater that act as habitants of Salmons also face a great danger of altered seasonal flows and warming effects. There may also be a shift in the quantity and supply of food. The increase in temperature of fresh water bodies and the various marine ecosystems may result in shifts in species population environment (Doney, Scott , Mary, Emmett, James, Francis, Chad, Heather et al, 2012, p 20).Elevated CO2 quantities and levels lead to decline in the nutrient content and richness of Eucalyptus leaves.

The resultant effect may be malnutrition of animals that depend on these vegetation for survive such as the Koalas (Parmesan, Camille, Michael, Carlos, Elvira, Anthony, David, and Michael, 2013, p 68).BibliographyDoney, Scott C., Mary Ruckelshaus, J. Emmett Duffy, James P. Barry, Francis Chan, Chad A. English, Heather M. Galindo et al. "Climate change impacts on marine ecosystems." Annual review of marine science 4 (2012): 11-37.Parmesan, Camille, Michael T. Burrows, Carlos M. Duarte, Elvira S.

Poloczanska, Anthony J. Richardson, David S. Schoeman, and Michael C. Singer. "Beyond climate change attribution in conservation and ecological research." Ecology letters 16, no. s1 (2013): 58-71.