Global Warming Impacts on Wildlife

At the University of Texas, there are studies performed that research the impacts of global warming and climate changes on wildlife. Climate change means that as we have had a rise in greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, some places around the globe are getting hotter and some places are getting cooler. As the earth retains more heat, the climate changes in local and regional climates. Over the past 100 years there are two main types of responses that are present. One of them is that the timing of events changes, for example, winter is warmer and spring starts at a sooner time. This is due to the gradual rise in temperature. The other one which is less obvious is that the location where animals exist actually changes and this is due to climate changes. As the climate changes, species move and the distribution of plants and animals change.

Butterflies and Climate Change

Bill Parmesan at the University of Texas conducted a study over a four-five year period on butterflies and climate change. Butterflies that live in Western USA from Mexico to Canada are very sensitive to climate. These butterflies do not move much. If they were to change where they live, it would be a gradual change. In the early 1900s these butterflies lived in the Southern region of Mexico. Today, in some places, the population of this butterfly had gone extinct even though the habitat looked fine. But in the upper regions and highest elevations, the butterfly was doing very well. This is exactly what you would expect as a response to the 1 degree F. temperature rise as the butterfly is slowly shifting where it lives to more northerly and higher elevation areas.

International Organizations

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations Body, that is comprised of scientists that has come out with reports that assess the state of climate science and the impacts of client change. The panel does not make recommendations to policy makers, but rather presents the science in order for the policy makers to come up with their own recommendations. The last IPCC report came out in 2001, and when that report came out many nations were convinced to ratify the Kyoto Protocol - which is an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions.

What can I Do to Help Slow Global Warming?

There are many sources available to give you tips and information. Visit the National Wildlife Federation section on wildlife and global warming. The web site has sections for people just like you and will help you to learn what you can do to confront global warming. Find out what programs are being initiated to help control environmental pollution.