Rising Temperatures, Shrinking Habitats: A Look into Climate's Impact on Wildlife

 Hadia Hussain

             Rising Temperatures, Shrinking Habitats: A Look into Climate's Impact on Wildlife

For as long as I could remember, I have always heard my mom saying “Stop opening the fridge door, you’re letting all of the cold air out”. I never understood why she was so adamant that the fridge door was never left open for an unnecessary amount of time. I mean, it’s just a fridge right? Fast forward to the summer of 2020, when I landed an internship to survey bird diversity at Liberty State Park’s Caven Point, and I realized that my mom’s words had become a metaphor for our planet. As I monitored the marsh for weeks, I noticed some shifts in the birds behavior that left me concerned. Several migratory birds were either not present or were arriving at the marsh at odd times. Specifically, a bird species known as the swallows were migrating earlier than expected, only to find their food resources scarce. Frequent rain storms added to the challenges faced by these birds, as they often left the marsh for days. Watching the swallows face challenges presented by climate change opened my eyes to the impact rising temperatures had on species I have seen around me my entire life. Although climate change can appear as a problem for future generations, it is a real threat to various animal species right now. Rising temperatures negatively affect habitats, force species to migrate, cause scarce resources, and eventually all of these factors contribute to declining populations and eventually extinction. 

You might be wondering, what factors influence climate change? Rising temperatures are caused by a mix of human and natural activities such as the burning of fossil fuels for energy, and transportation which release greenhouse gasses (GHG) such as carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. This release of GHG traps heat and leads to global warming. According to The London School of Economics and Political Science, another significant factor that leads to rising GHG levels is deforestation. A fact to keep in mind is that trees absorb carbon dioxide, so when forests are cleared for agriculture or urban development, the carbon stored within trees is released into the atmosphere leading to increasing GHG levels.

The rise in GHG levels not only warms the temperature but it disrupts ecosystems, leading to habitat loss for many species. As temperatures rise, precipitation patterns (rain, snow, sleet, and hail) also change leading to altered conditions of the habitats various species call home. For example, in the arctic, ice covered regions (ice sheets, glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice)  are melting rapidly due to warm temperatures. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), since 1979 arctic ice has been melting at a rate of 12.2% per decade, which directly impacts species that depend on frozen landscapes for survival, like polar bears and seals. 

When asked about the impact rising temperatures has on polar bears, Philip Orton, a Research Associate Professor of ocean engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology, emphasized that climate change is a major threat to Arctic habitats. He noted “Polar bears are going to have a shrinking habitat. Current research indicates that while global warming affects various polar regions, the Arctic is warming nearly three times faster than other regions globally. It is shocking because about 10 degree Fahrenheit warming has already occurred.” The rapid melting of the poles is forcing Arctic species, including polar bears, to travel greater distances to hunt for food, such as seals. Since food resources are scarce, polar bears and other species often lack the energy to travel far distances to hunt, which can lead to declining populations. 

Figure 1: The following image obtained from a study conducted by NASA showcases the size of Arctic sea ice each September observed through satellites

However, the effects of climate change extend far beyond the poles. Animals across all ecosystems are affected, from tropical rainforests to coral reefs and deserts. The warming temperatures disrupt migratory patterns, change breeding seasons, and alter food availability, forcing many species to face challenges they cannot overcome quickly. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) studies estimates that despite slowing down rates of deforestation in the past decade, 10 million hectares of forest is still lost each year for palm oil plantations and logging. Additionally, the Rainforest Foundation US, states that  “The first eight months of 2024 saw the highest number of fires since 2005 and a staggering 13.4 million acres of Brazil’s Amazon have burned through August 2024, an area larger than Costa Rica”. Species such as orangutans and jaguars as a result face critical threats. Specifically, orangutans require large forests to obtain food, resources, and mates; however, deforestation and climate change present this species with challenges such as droughts and wildfires. One of the severe threats to orangutans from climate change are wildfires, which destroy vast areas of forest within minutes. Likewise, the Amazon and other tropical forests inhabited by jaguars are facing an increase in wildfires due to rising temperatures and dry seasons. These fires not only destroy their habitats, and limit prey populations but they force jaguars to travel far distances like the polar bears to find resources, which can lead jaguars to compete for the same resources, such as food or space. 

Figure 2: The following image obtained from a study conducted by the  Rainforest Foundation US showcases the acres of area burned in Brazil since 2019.

Deforestation, melting of the poles and increasing GHG levels indicate that climate change is in fact not a distant threat and the consequences are being faced by wildlife populations globally. As temperatures continue to rise, habitats shrink, animals are being forced to quickly adapt and migrate which is causing various species to go extinct. The loss of biodiversity, driven by climate change, affects not only species like polar bears, orangutans, and jaguars but also disrupts the balance of ecosystems that are essential for human life. Addressing climate change requires immediate action, from reducing GHG emissions to conserving critical habitats. 

Humans can help lower climate change by switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar and choosing alternatives to car travel, like public transport and cycling. All of these actions reduce emission of GHG and air pollution. By acknowledging the negative effects rising temperatures have on our ecosystems, we have a chance to protect the diverse species that share our planet and, in turn, secure a more sustainable future for generations to come.



Resources:

2024 Amazon Fires. Rainforest Foundation US. (2024, October 9). https://rainforestfoundation.org/engage/brazil-amazon-fires/ 

The state of the world’s forests 2020. www.fao.org. (2020). https://www.fao.org/state-of-forests/en/ 

NASA. (2023, October 23). Arctic Sea ice minimum. NASA. https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/arctic-sea-ice/?intent=121 

What is the role of deforestation in climate change and how can “reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation” (REDD+) help? Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment. (2024, August 16). https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/explainers/whats-redd-and-will-it-help-tackle-climate-change/ 

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