How does global warming effect animals?

Imani RogersTierra WalkerVictoria Bailey

Hypothesis

If global warming changes the climate in a region then animals may not be able to adapt and they will begin to die.

What are ecosystems and What is Global Warming? For those of you who do not know An

ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that work together.

Global warming is when the earth heats up (the temperature rises).  It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature.

Graph

How global warming effects animals? All organisms depend on their habitats for food, water, shelter,

and opportunities to breed and raise young. Climate changes can affect organisms and their habitats in a many of ways. In fact, global warming impacts all life on earth, from individual organisms to populations, species, communities, and ecosystems. It can alter behaviors, population sizes, species distributions, plant and animal communities, and ecosystem functions and stability. How strongly different species will be affected varies, depending on differences in their ecology and life history. Species with small population sizes, restricted ranges, and limited ability to move to different habitat will be most at risk. Similarly, different habitats and ecosystems will be impacted differently, with those in coastal, high-latitude, and high-altitude regions most vulnerable.

Examples of animals that cannot adapt to Global Warming and are most effected….. Polar bears inhabit an arctic environment that is under

severe threat from global warming. For polar bears to survive, they need sea ice . But with climate warming, less and less sea ice remains, and each year, more polar bears die of starvation, and in some cases, drowning, from having to swim long distances to reach more sea ice.

The tiniest marine plants, phytoplankton and zooplankton  die off if the water becomes too warm.  These creature are the staple food of many species of fish and their absence can decimate fisheries.

Photos

European great tits are evolving different breeding times to ensure maximum food supplies to increase offspring survival. This is because Winter Moth caterpillars are maturing earlier in spring due to rising temperatures and these caterpillars are a staple food source for these birds. So individuals which can bring forward their egg-laying ensure greater food availability for their chicks and so these individuals are more successful. Research has shown that birds lay their eggs two weeks earlier than they did in the 1970s, a clear example of how organisms are altering in response to global warming.

Similarly, Canadian red squirrels are breeding earlier allowing them to gather more pinecones to tide them over during winter.

Organisms that can adapt to Global Warming……..

Ways that you can stop Global Warming Make sure your car is properly tuned up. This allows it to run more

efficiently and generate fewer harmful gases. Walk or ride your bike if possible, or carpool on your way to work. Cars

burn fossil fuel, so smaller, more fuel-efficient cars emit less CO2, particularly hybrid cars.

Turn lights and other appliances off when you're not using them. Even though a light bulb doesn't generate greenhouse gas, the power plant that generates the electricity used by the light bulb probably does. Switch from incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent bulbs, which use less energy and last longer.

Recycle. Garbage that doesn't get recycled ends up in a landfill, generating methane. Recycled goods also require less energy to produce than products made from scratch.

Plant trees and other plants where you can. Plants take carbon dioxide out of the air and release oxygen.

Don't burn garbage. This releases carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons into the atmosphere

Conclusion

Our hypothesis was proven correct because many animals begin to die because they can not adapt to the climate change caused by global warming. However through are research we learned that there are some organism that can adapt to global warming. Global warming is not a natural disaster and you can take small steps to reduce the rate at which global warming increases.

Sources

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/global-warming9.htm

http://web4.audubon.org/globalwarming/ImpactsBirdsWildlife.php

Service Learning

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