Impacts of Climate Change on Endangered Species

Today, the world population has exceeded 7 billion, and an excessive amount of greenhouse gases, such as carbon oxides, is being released into the atmosphere every single second. According to Dafeng, global temperatures have increased by about 0.6 to 0.76 degrees Celsius since the mid-1800s as a consequence of human activities. As a result, oceans are becoming warmer, sea levels are rising, and more frequent, severe droughts are threatening crops, wildlife, and water supplies. From marine turtles off the coast of Africa to polar bears in the Arctic, our planet’s diverse life forms are at risk from the changing climate.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) noted in 2014 that "climate change is already affecting species and ecosystems on a global scale and these effects are projected to become more rapid and extensive." Among the critical impacts of climate change on endangered species conservation are changes in distribution, mistiming, and shifts in the proportion of male and female populations. Each of these factors can cause declines in species populations or even lead to extinction. Understanding the depth of these impacts requires examining how species are responding to altered precipitation patterns and temperature changes.

Changing Distribution

Many species are adapting to these changes by shifting their geographic ranges. This shift leads to alterations in ecological community composition. For some species, habitat size may increase, while for others, available areas may decrease or disappear altogether. A substantial concern is that when species move to new environments, they may struggle to find the food resources they previously relied on. Moreover, the migration process and adaptation to new environments require significant energy, depleting the vitality needed for survival.

Species that are habitat specialists, occupying small geographic areas and relatively rare, are particularly vulnerable to climate change. For example, the endangered Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly is found only in willow forests located on northeast-facing slopes above 3,780 meters in Colorado, United States. The 11 known populations inhabit areas that provide the coolest and wettest microclimates available, but climate change appears to be the largest threat to their long-term survival (Britten et al., 1994). Rising temperatures force these butterflies to alter their habitats, making it difficult for them to survive in warmer conditions.

Another species affected by climate change is the blue whale, the largest wildlife animal in the world, measuring approximately 35 meters in length and weighing 190 tons. Blue whales inhabit oceans worldwide and feed on plankton, such as krill. They migrate to higher latitude sea areas during summer and lower latitude sea areas during winter, in accordance with sea temperature. However, as seawater temperatures rise, water flow becomes stagnant, and cold ocean currents from the bottom are blocked, causing plankton to disappear. Consequently, blue whales are compelled to migrate 200 to 500 kilometers further south, consuming significant energy and leading to a reduction in breeding periods and areas.

Mistiming and Phenological Changes

Climate change also causes mistiming in some species, resulting in population declines. As the climate continues to warm, the phenologies of organisms, including both plants and animals, are changing. According to Joseph (2013), these changes result in mismatches in resource acquisition. Specifically, migratory birds experience population declines as their food resources emerge at different times in their breeding grounds. Scientists have found that birds not adjusting their migration timing to match available resources are at a significant disadvantage (Burger et al., 2012).

Møller et al. (2008) used long-term data of 100 migratory bird species in Europe to determine population declines due to mistiming of bird phenologies with their food sources. They collected 289 estimates of changes in mean spring migration dates in birds. When analyzing population trends from 1970-1990, the most important variables were farmland breeding habitat and body mass. However, in the period from 1990-2000, the only significant factor affecting population trends was the change in migration date.

Data showed that populations accelerating their spring migration maintained stable population trends, while those not adjusting their timing experienced declines. These declines are due to the inability of later-migrating birds to capitalize on spring food resources. Birds arriving sooner have a greater chance of accessing necessary food resources and were found to have larger clutch sizes, likely due to a longer acclimation period to breeding site climates and resources.

Caribou or reindeer also face challenges due to climate change. Inhabiting areas around the North Pole, caribou migrate extensively through tundra regions with changing seasons. As ice melting and emerging timing shifts due to global warming, caribou’s summer tundra visits are affected. This timing is crucial as caribou visit plant-rich tundra for nutrition needed for reproduction in the fall. Rising temperatures also increase mosquito populations, potentially spreading harmful diseases to caribou. As a result, caribou numbers have declined from 480,000 to 289,000 in recent years.

Sex Ratio Imbalance

A further consequence of global climate change is the alteration of male-to-female population ratios. External environmental factors can influence whether an egg hatches a male or female in some species, meaning climate change could cause an imbalance in sex ratios. When the balance of male and female numbers is disrupted, successful breeding becomes challenging, leading to population declines and potential extinction.

Sea turtles are notably affected by this issue. Unlike humans, the sex of sea turtle eggs is determined by the temperature of the sand beneath them. Warmer conditions tend to produce more females, while cooler ones yield males. Even slight temperature changes can cause one sex to dominate, making mating difficult. Kavya (2017) notes that scientists have observed an overwhelming number of female hatchlings on Florida's beaches in recent years, possibly due to steady temperature increases. This skewed sex ratio threatens the future of the species as a whole.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the impacts of climate change on endangered species are profound and multifaceted. From shifting geographic distributions and phenological mismatches to sex ratio imbalances, these changes accelerate population declines and increase the risk of extinction. While global warming is expected to continue on an unprecedented scale, we must take proactive steps to mitigate its effects on vulnerable species. Conservation efforts should focus on preserving ecosystems, facilitating adaptation, and maintaining balanced sex ratios to ensure the survival of endangered species in the face of a changing climate.

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