Global Warming and Wildlife

Benefits of Recycling.com is presenting this series of pages on global warming becaue we believe there is evidence to support it is real. Even so, we are open to be proven wrong, which is why there are pages on why it is not real. Fair is fair.

The truth is we just want people to be aware that human activities (as well as natural causes) have the possibility of creating adverse effects in the US, Antarctica, Greenland, and throughout the world.

Global warming can also be detrimental to wildlife such as polar bears, creatures like sea turtles, and sea life like coral reefs,not to mention human health, due to the spread of disease.

So is global warming a myth or are there facts to support it as a reality of our times? Is there really such a thing as the greenhouse effect? And if so, what is that?

Whether you believe global warming is real or not, we invite you to read what we have uncovered on the many pages of this site... and beyond. Remember, knowledge is power.

Global Warming and Wildlife / Addressing a Serious Threat

Though the current increase of the average global temperature, which is commonly referred to as global warming, is only about a couple of degrees, this phenomenon has already become a serious concern for people around the globe.

But not only humans are affected with global warming: while most of us are just concerned, many representatives of flora and fauna are face-to-face with their extinction because of current changes in the global weather. The National Wildlife Foundation has already called the global warming to be the most dangerous threat to the future of the wildlife.

Global Warming and Wildlife / Scientists Take on the Problem

There were several scientific studies conducted to evaluate the risks, caused by global warming for wildlife. Though the results are not unanimous, it is estimated that about 20 % of the animal and plant species may have increased chances for extinction if the average global temperature continue to climb up. Unfortunately, we already have the examples of negative influence of global warming on particular wildlife representatives.

Global Warming and Wildlife / Penguins

Among the animals, who first felt the influence of global warming, are penguins. These funny animals suffer from the decrease in the population of the krill shrimp, which form the major part of penguins’ ration.

The point is that because of rising temperature the huge deposits of ice in Antarctica and Greenland have started to melt, decreasing the population of tiny organisms, including krill, and thus changing the whole ecosystem.

Global Warming and Wildlife / Polar Bears and Foxes

Polar bears also suffer from global warming. As the ice melts and becomes thinner, these animals have less area, suitable for living and hunting.

Again, one single change causes a kind of chain reaction in the ecosystem: because of increasing temperature ice floes decrease and many sea animals like seals experience lack of suitable place for breeding, consequently allowing less chances for polar bears to hunt and find food.

The climate changes also affect the polar foxes, that are well-adopted for living in extreme low temperatures, making these animals move north in search of new suitable habitat.

Global Warming and Wildlife / Habitats in Danger

Global warming can also influence the habitats of the particular animals. For example, some of the insects, which lived only in tropical and subtropical regions before, now move northerly bit by bit, as the temperature increases there. By the way, the increasing temperature has already caused a significant increase in the amount of mosquitoes in some Northern territories.

This in its turn causes many problems for other animals. For example, reindeers or caribou have to spend more energy and time to get rid of these pesky insects instead of finding food and accumulating energy for the long winter season.

Not only is the wildlife in the north affected by global warming. Coral reefs belong to the most fragile ecosystems in the world, being especially sensitive to the temperature or water chemical composition changes.

The scientists have already noticed the extinction of about 16 percents of coral reefs just within one year. Furthermore, the increase of carbon dioxide concentration in water and pH level fluctuations cause additional damage to the coral reefs and their inhabitants.

So, as you see not only humans suffer from global warming, but the wildlife does so as well. But it is only humans, who may have a chance to fix the problem of global warming progression and save the planet for the sake of all its inhabitants.

Global Warming and Wildlife / Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming#Environmental
http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/global_warm_wil.htm
http://www.nwf.org/wildlifeandglobalwarming/effectsonwildlife.cfm
http://starrynightlights.com/blog/2008/06/19/the-consequence-of-global-warming-on-wildlife/

For more information on Global Warming follow these links:

Definition for Global Warming

When Did Global Warming Start

How To Stop Global Warming

More Ways to Prevent Global Warming

Global Warming is Real

Facts on Global Warming

Global Warming Evidence

Global Warming is Not Real

More Global Warming Myths

Global Warming Predictions

Global Warming Trends

Global Warming Hurricanes

Global Warming Antarctica

Global Warming Greenland

Human Effects of Global Warming

Natural Causes of Global Warming

Global Warming Polar Bears

Global Warming Green House Effect

Methane and Global Warming

Global Warming and Fossil Fuels