The Effects of Climate Change on Biodiversity

Introduction For a good Earth, biodiversity —the great diversity of life on it—is indispensable. From lush forests and colorful coral reefs to large savannahs and freezing tundras, every ecosystem relies on a sophisticated network of species interactions. Still, one of the biggest dangers to this equilibrium now is climate change. What Effects Is Climate Change Having on Our Ecosystems? Driven mostly by human actions like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, climate change is rising world temperatures at an alarming rate. This warming impact is altering whole ecosystems, threatening untold numbers of species worldwide, not only by hotter summers. - Many species are losing the particular habitats they depend on to thrive as temperatures rise. For instance, melting Arctic ice is severely shrinking the habitat polar bears depend on for hunting. - To seek acceptable temperatures, plants and animals are migratory toward the poles or toward greater altitudes. Not all species, unfortunatel...