How Global Warming Affects Wildlife - Research Paper Example

How Global Warming Affects Wildlife Introduction A study by Casper (24) posits that the current global warming seems to cause both physical and biological changes throughout the world, and hence influencing regional climates, organisms inhabit and ecosystems in different ways. The wildlife can only continue to exist in certain ranges of both climatic and environmental factors. Otherwise, in case of change, these animals tend to exhibit ecological responses especially if they cannot tolerate these new conditions. Sometimes these animals fail to adapt revolutionary adaptations in the new atmosphere. In such cases where the animals fail to adapt, there is threat of species extinction. In addition, limited habitat increases with increased climatic changes. According to Casper (26), phenology involves animal migration, breeding, and spring appearance, and it directly links to season changes. Spatial distribution of animals especially in elevation shifts and poleward shifts occur with disappearing of suitable habitat extends beyond its regular range. There is also the undergoing environmental and physical change affecting their inhabitants. The melting ice and temperature changes affect the water level, and higher Ph. affecting the marine. This paper discusses these climate changes causing global warming and the effects of these changes on the wildlife. Analysis The Greenhouse effect on global warming involves the amount of solar radiation trapped on the earth’s atmosphere. Global warming effect caused by humankind through the burning of fossil fuels took research over twenty years to discover. It plays a big role in the change in temperatures. Once the fossil fuels burns, then carbon die-oxide and other gases emit into the atmosphere. Heat rays produced once the sunlight hits the earth bounce back to the atmosphere as radiation. This refracted heat is supposed to be absorbed back into space. However, due to the layers of the greenhouse gases (carbon die oxide and nitrogen), produced from the burnt fossil fuels and coal, the heat is mirrored back to the atmosphere (Arvine 6). The climatic changes have led to disruptions and different animals react differently. A report by IPCC (2007) shows that the climatic change affects predator/prey interactions, biotic interactions, and ecosystem functioning. In addition, natural disturbances, invasive species, and loss of habitats are among the stressors of animal population that may continue increasing with climatic changes. According to this report, climatic temperatures may rise in the following years to unmanageable degrees leading to mass extinctions. Since the industrialization era, carbon die oxide has increased by 30% while methane has doubled. Nitrous Oxide, which is also another greenhouse gas, has risen by 15%. All these gases have enhanced the heat trapping capability in the atmosphere. In the year 1950, the carbon die oxide parts per million was around 350 compared to the year 2000 when the figure rose to 385 parts per million. This means these gases were absorbing a lot of heat while the rest reflected back to the global atmosphere. The change in temperatures cause the climate changes and increases the frequency, extent, and strength of other weather effects like floods, draughts, heat waves among others. Research shows that, by the year 2100, the temperatures will have increased by 2-5%, while the rise in sea level will have gone up by 25 feet. The melting land-ice triggers the rise in the sea height. The power of the hurricanes will also go up. The Kyoto protocol took effect in 2005 with United States having withdrawn from the treaty, with Canada and Russia following suit. Biological diversity involving complexities and richness of the life of earth includes involves the living species and their genes. The migration of these animals may cause a change in species at different rates. These changes may be subject to change in vegetation. He change in species may consequently create imbalanced ecosystems allowing some invasive species into the environment. Extinction of animals due to climate change caused by global warming seems to be on an accelerated speed. A study by Sierra Club (2008) posits that by 2050, the earth will have lost 25% of its currently existing species. The most vulnerable species include the smaller populations, and those animals with limited climatic changes. Some of these species include the ones living on peninsulas, islands, mountains, and coastal areas. A report by IPCC (2007) shows that 1800 bird species or around 20% of these species stand the risk of extinction based on climatic factors. A study by Kirby (2004) carried out in six global regions argues that 1103 species may shift due to climatic changes. The region represents 20% of the earth surface, and this study shows that 15-37% of the species may be extinct by 2050. Pounds et al. (2005) argues that the amphibians may equally be extinct due to the climatic changes in the seas. The study argues that the warm sea temperatures seem to accelerate the growth of fungus in these amphibians’ habitats and as a result responsible for the species extinction. The harlequin frog is a good example of an extinct species due to decreased mist frequency in Costa Rica based on the increased temperatures. Phenology involves the different activities whether biological or seasonal in both plants and animals. A change in season timing especially spring brings about early breeding, early migrant birds, singing birds, butterflies and other related choruses related to amphibians, On the other hand, climatic change due to global warming causes early migration especially in birds altering their wintering and stopover habitats especially during breeding and laying of eggs. Several documentaries show early immigrations and early bird returns. Regional global warming cause changes in vegetation and many animals respond to these changes by increasing their normal range. This increase of range includes moving further in such of better habitat. This move mostly happens in North America, Europe, and Britain, and a good example is England with 16 taxa moving northward beyond 60kms or above 25m elevation according to IPCC (2007). Further study shows that the Arctic continues experiencing increased temperatures at a rate twice any other global region. The area equally experiences decreased sea ice, affecting the terrestrial animals and marine species. Many frogs are homeless especially those dwelling on the mountains. A study by Maslin (5) shows that it is unfortunate human beings continue destroying the ozone layer through conducting different experiments including the Greenhouses. These experiments continue changing the composition of the biosphere, and the global heat balance causing a pinnacle of eco-revolution. These global changes consequently affect nature, and limited vegetation means limited wildlife (Schneider & Terry 52). One of the wonders of the world involves the wild beast migration, a good example of animals migrating in such of greener pastures. Many more animals follow suit although majority of the animals die due to hunger and thirst. Global warming causes draught, which affects both human and animals. Global warming, on the other hand, brings about flooding and hurricanes, which affect hard on animals. These hurricanes and typhoons are very strong and they affect the habitats of the animals inhibiting the coastal regions and the sea. The typhoons and hurricanes destroy vegetation that the animals depend on while destroying their habitats. This does not only kill these animals, but also forces them to migrate to safer areas. Katrina is a good example of a hurricane that totally damaged the coastal region destroying both human and animal habitat. The sea turtles suffer with increased global warming since their physical nests become destroyed by rising water levels. In addition, many insects and pests tend to spread to higher attitudes with increased global warming, and diseases may become more lethal with warmer climates. Study shows that the human beings play a big role in global warming that has caused damage to both human and wildlife. In addition, study shows evidence that the practice of greenhouse and global warming may continue with globalization. As a result, people should take responsibility, and act against climatic changes in order to protect and preserve the wildlife that inhibit the planet, and the humankind. Global warming has seen the government treat it as a political tool. John Kerry rated on CNN Global Warming as a top menace like disease outbreaks, terrorism, poverty, and production of the weapons of mass destruction (White & Leslie 14). Conclusion A Research by Casper (28) indicates that that only 41% of the Americans believe in the causes of Global warming. This study means that over half of the Americans do not take responsibility of what happens around global warming. Wildlife continues to suffer due to human action. Soon, most of the animal species may be extinct based on global warming. Global warming has been a debated issue and unfortunately, a solution is not yet established. Due to technology and science, the human race wants to control nature instead of accommodating. That is why global leaders are looking for a technical solution to solve this problem. Unfortunately, 80% of the gases in produced from burning fossils. The energy demand is on the increase, and it is hard to pull an alternative resource. The global warming has definitely caused the climatic changes, and several losses have come about to the earth and its population. This means that protective measures need mitigation since it will be difficult to restore a damaged situation. This is the only way to save the wildlife from global warming. Works Cited Casper, Julie K. Changing Ecosystems: Effects of Global Warming. New York: Infobase Pub, 2010. Internet resource Global Warming. Irvine, CA: Saddleback Educational Publishing, 2009. Print. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2007 (a). Synthesis of observed impacts. Climate change 2007: Working group ll: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability: Kirby, Alex. 2004. Climate Risk 'to million species'. BBC News. Retrieved on March 2, 2015 from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3375447.stm. Maslin, Mark. Global Warming. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, 2002. Print. Pounds, J Alan et al., 2005. Widespread amphibian extinctions from epidemic disease driven by global warming. Retrieved on 2 March 2015 from http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v439/n7073/abs/nature04246.html. Schneider, Stephen H, and Terry Root. Wildlife Responses to Climate Change: North American Case Studies. Washington, D.C: Island Press, 2002. Internet resource White, Kim K, and Leslie A. Duram. America Goes Green: An Encyclopedia of Eco-Friendly Culture in the United States. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2013. Print. World Wildlife Fund (WWF), n/d . The Impacts of Climate Change on Nature: Animals Plants Under Increasing Threats. Retrieved on March,2, 2015 from http://www.panda.org/about_our_earth/aboutcc/problems/impacts. Read More