Global warming in Turkey

THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING ON ANIMALS

TURKEY

In the latest report on Climate Change found that approximately 20 to 30 percent of animal species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if global average temperature increases by more than 2.7 to 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

But how?

Changes in range

Wildlife that are able to adjust are shifting their ranges northward or to higher altitudes to adjust to warming temperatures. Wildlife that already live at high altitudes or latitudes, such as the American pika or polar bears in the Arctic, may find themselves with nowhere to go.

Changes in timing of natural events Many species take their cues about when to migrate, nest or mate from seasonal changes in temperature, precipitation and daylight. Global warming is confusing those signals. The changes in the climate force wildlife to alter life cycle and seasonal events. Sometimes they might get out of synch with other species in their ecosystem or with other natural events. For example, some animals are laying eggs, migrating, or emerging from hibernation much earlier than they used to, only to find that the plants or the insects they need for food have not yet emerged.

Melting of Arctic sea ice

Arctic ice is melting at a faster pace than was predicted even a few years ago. Some scientists are now saying that the Arctic could be ice free in the late summer as early as 2012. Many Arctic mammals, such as polar bears, walrus, and seals depend on sea ice for their survival.

As a result of such of reasons, a lot of animals, especially polar bears in Canada, sea turtles in South America, the North Atlantic right whale in America, the giant pandas in China, Asia’s only ape – the orangutan in Indonesia, elephants in Africa, frogs in Australia, tigers in India are in danger.

Sea-level rise

Sea-level rise inundate beaches and marshes and cause erosion on both coasts, diminishing habitat for birds, invertebrates, fish, and other coastal wildlife.

AMERICAN PIKA (Ochotona princeps)

Polar bear

Seals

Early migrating animals

Pandas

Floating world