Introduction
Climate change is not a myth anymore; it is a fact that the global temperature has been rising steadily over the last decades. Researchers have estimated that the world temperature has increased by 1°C since 1880 and is projected to rise to between 2 and 5°C by 2100 (Nunez et al. 352). Such an increase may seem insignificant to ordinary people, but on a global scale, it has large effects on the environment, especially on biodiversity.
This paper will explore the impact of climate change on animal and plant species in America. It will investigate the mechanisms through which global warming affects flora and fauna and discuss some species that have already been extinct due to climate change in America. The research shows that due to a loss of habitats, invasive species, changes in fertility, and the interaction with other species caused by global warming, America has lost over twenty species.
The Impact of Climate Change on the Loss of Biodiversity
Loss of Habitats
Climate change affects biodiversity through several mechanisms, one of which is the loss of habitats. Due to the rising temperature, the risk of devastating wildfires grows significantly. For example, the vulnerability assessment conducted in California showed that, because of global warming, the fire season had begun earlier and ended later (Environmental Protection Agency). These changes pose a threat to the survival of different species and their habitats.
While dry areas are subject to more frequent fires, other territories may experience the effect of the other extreme — flooding. Floods become more frequent due to climate change because of an increase in precipitation, and they harm species not only by directly destroying their habitats but also through resulting water pollution (US Department of the Interior). With their habitats destroyed, species have to search for new areas to live in, and not all of them manage to adapt.
Invasive Species
Another mechanism through which global warming affects biodiversity is invasive species. Some species benefit from the warmer climate, which allows them to spread to new territories and obtain new food sources. However, as they begin to inhabit new areas, it may negatively affect species for which these territories were their native habitats.
One example of such an impact of climate change is the brook trout, a freshwater fish found in the Catoctin Mountain Park. This fish requires a cold, clear stream to live and flourish, and it competes with nonnative brown trout, which can tolerate higher temperatures (US Department of the Interior). With a global temperature increase, the natural habitat of brook trout has become less suitable for this fish but more comfortable for brown trout. As a result, the invasive brown trout has gained a survival advantage. Scholars discovered that brook trout could adapt to the warmer climate, but not with the increased competition from brown trout (US Department of the Interior). Hence, climate change can benefit invasive species, and its spread threatens the survival of native plants and animals.
Interspecies Interaction and Loss of Fertility
With global warming, some species have become endangered because of changing patterns of interaction with other species and the negative impact on fertility. Some species cannot reproduce when the temperature is higher than their thermal fertility limit (Walsh et al. 250). When the global temperature rises to a certain point, such species will not be able to multiply and will become extinct. Further, some plants and animals rely on others to survive or reproduce. For instance, there are plants, the survival of which depends on animals that propagate their pollen grains or seeds (Schleuning et al. 322).
One specific example of the species that have been affected by climate change through this mechanism is freshwater mussels, occurring in North America. Freshwater mussels reproduced by squirting their larvae to fish, which then had to shelter and spread them (Einhorn). Now, these mollusks have become extinct, and one possible reason for this is that their host fish moved or disappeared (Einhorn). Thus, climate change may cause extinctions by negatively affecting the reproductive patterns of species.
Extinction of Species
A combination of the described mechanisms through which climate change influences biodiversity has already led to the extinction of several species in America. It is reported that America has lost 22 animals and one plant due to global warming (Einhorn). Research shows that species subject to extinction due to global warming possess common traits, such as specialized habitats, exceeded environmental tolerances, rarity, and high exposure to other pressures, such as invasive species (Foden et al. 10).
For example, the Maui nukupuʻu was a rare bird endemic to Hawaii, and it was not seen since 1996 (Einhorn). The only extinct plant species is Phyllostegia glabra var. lanaiensis, which also occurred only in Hawaii (Einhorn). Without ongoing conservation efforts, America would have lost even more species. However, since climate change continues, more measures should be taken to prevent the extinction of endangered native plants and animals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, climate change affects species in America through different mechanisms. It causes wildfires and floods, which destroy the native habitats of species. It fosters the spreading of invasive species, which displace native plants and animals. Finally, by changing interactions between species and affecting fertility, global warming prevents some species from propagating and increases their risk of extinction. Due to climate change, America has already lost over twenty species, and without conservation efforts, the number of extinct plants and animals will be rising.
Works Cited
Einhorn, Catrin. “Protected Too Late: U.S. Officials Report More Than 20 Extinctions.” The New York Times, Web.
Environmental Protection Agency. “California Prepares for Increased Wildfire Risk to Air Quality From Climate Change.” EPA, Web.
Foden, Wendy B., et al. “Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of Species.” Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, vol. 10, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-72.
Nunez, Sarahi, et al. “Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity: Is Below 2 °C Enough?” Climatic Change, vol. 154, no. 3, 2019, pp. 351-365.
Schleuning, Matthias, et al. “Trait-Based Assessments of Climate-Change Impacts on Interacting Species.” Trends in Ecology & Evolution, vol. 35, no. 4, 2020, pp. 319-328.
US Department of the Interior. “Wildlife and Climate Change.” National Parks Service, Web.
Walsh, Benjamin S., et al. “The Impact of Climate Change on Fertility.” Trends in Ecology and Evolution, vol. 34, no. 3, 2019, pp. 249-259.