Harding 1

Halie Harding

Professor Scot

ENG.1201

16 July 2021

The Effects of Climate Change on Animal Species

A devasting blow to our planet’s climate has taken over, and we have little time to act.

The planet’s climate is going through fluctuations like never before. Many people disbelieve if

climate change truly is real. News stories are always back and forth, one side in favor of

believing, while the other not so much. It is no surprise people are so divided on the topic.

Humans have begun destroying multiple environments to expand industrialization. Those in

disbelief of climate change are often in favor of this industrialization for the growth of

economics. No matter the media, the facts are there. Climate change has existed for decades

now, but the recent increase in temperatures have caused animal populations and ecosystems to

diminish.

Earth’s air temperature has increased by 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1900s. The

combined land and ocean temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.32F (0.14C) since

1981 (Climate.gov). This new rapidly climbing number, is over twice the original average of

0.13F (0.08C). Our increasingly large industrial production has been a major aid in air

pollution. Burnt up fossil fuels remain in our atmosphere for years to come. The planet’s natural

protection against these fumes are forests and oceans. Eighty percent of the Earth’s forests have

already been destroyed due to an increased need for lumber and land. The duties trees provided

for us are now all being pushed towards oceans. Land pollution destroys whole ecosystems and

may release more fumes into the atmosphere causing contamination. These devasting changes
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are altering the life cycles, expectancies, and homes of several animal species (WorldWildlife

Fund). The effects are not only limited to animals, but to plants and humans as well.

The increase in global temperature has brought drought to many regions. Several animal

species are left without food or water. If a certain animal species is depended upon for a native

human population to thrive, those people will begin to suffer. The higher temperatures would

require plants and animals to adapt very quickly. Adaptations could take thousands of years

before they are fully functional. Many of these species have only a few years remaining. The

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released records that 20-30% of plant and

animal species will be at risk of extinction if the global average temperatures exceed 1.5-2.5. So

far, we have experienced a rise of 1.0C in the Earth’s air temperature.

The most widespread case of drought in the United States is California. California

experiences severe droughts that have lasted years with little breaks in between. Wildfires run

ramped throughout the state causing destruction of homes, forests, and animal populations. This

mass loss of plant growth could, in turn, cause California to expect air pollution increases. The

Paris California wildfire was one of the most devasting in history. This fire had stirred up an old

radioactive site leading to possible contamination across the Los Angeles region.

Drought and wildfires also bring an increased risk to people who suffer from asthma and

animal species with delicate lungs. Pollen, dust, and ash begin to stir and remain in the air

longer. Many small species of animals have small respiratory systems that are incapable of

handling these allergens. When put under severe stressors, they develop respiratory infections

that later lead to failure. When a lack of water is present, plant populations decline. This decline

would cause several animals to lose their homes and food sources, further aiding in the extinction

of thousands.
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Another threat posed by an increase in droughts are heavy tropical storms. More water

becomes evaporated into the atmosphere and is left to rest. According to USGS, increased heat

within the atmosphere combined with a warmer ocean surface leads to increasingly strong wind

speeds. Therefore, warmer weather comes with a greater chance of hurricanes forming. Tropical

storms respond most to heat in the top layers of ocean waters, needing at least 79F to thrive.

“Since 1995 there have been 17 above-normal Atlantic hurricane seasons, as measured by

NOAA’s Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) Index”, Nasa.

With a higher ocean water level, these storms can reach areas they previously could not.

This threat puts more land regions at risk for damage, causing habitat loss. Many plants and

homes will become ripped up and washed away by the strong waters. Animal species who are

unable to find proper shelter, or are unknown to these storms, may suffer from drowning or the

impact of heavy tides. They will begin to experience severe droughts, cyclones, or both.

Earth’s oceans are undergoing several drastic changes. Ocean water levels have seen a

major rise these past few years. “Global mean sea level has risen about 8-9 (21-24 centimeters)

since 1880”, climate.gov. The rise is primarily due to the polar ice caps and glaciers beginning to

melt. The arctic is now only a fraction of its’ original size. “Arctic sea ice is now declining at a

rate of 13.1 percent per decade”, NASA.gov. As the glaciers melt, many arctic species become at

risk of losing their homes. The declining land area means less room for such species as, Polar

Bears and Penguins. Species are forced to fight for shelter and food which decreases population

over time. According to the World Wildlife Fund, there are an estimated 31,000 polar bears left

in the world as of 2020.

As saltwater becomes warmer, water expands. The expanding saltwater is the secondary

cause of risen ocean levels. The air temperature has increased, which means the planet’s ocean
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temperatures will increase as well. Ocean waters absorb heat and carbon dioxide form the

atmosphere. Oceans are Earth’s second largest defensive against CO2 before it becomes

damaging. Factories, cars, fires, electricity consumption, and deforestation have all been linked

to an increased production of CO2 (carbon dioxide). CO2 is used to naturally maintain marine

life, as it keeps the waters at a perfect pH level. When too much CO2 becomes absorbed, the

waters become too acidic for many species of coral, crustaceans, and small fish to survive

(WWF). “Coral reefs are the most threatened as temperatures rise and their death could cause the

collapse of the commensal marine community” E. Jean Brennan.

The largest threat to animals and climate change can all be located within deforestation.

Deforestation is the cutting down of forests to produce lumber and clear land. Most Earth’s

forests have already been destroyed for this reason. If the rate of deforestation is not slowed, or

abolished, all rainforests will be extinct by 2100. Rainforests provide Earth with a natural

cooling band (Daniel Howden). Trees provide the biggest defense against increased CO2. They

use CO2 to produce O2 (oxygen) and restore a natural balance between them. The weight of

CO2 consumption is all being depended upon oceans, as humans continue to destroy trees. A

single day’s deforestation creates the same carbon footprint of eight million people flying over to

New York.

Deforestation will not only lead to warmer weather and increased CO2 but threaten

animal populations as well. Multiple observations have recorded just how many bird species will

become endangered or extinct. A study done by a group of scientists have made predictions on

the loss of homes for several species. “Our results indicate that BAE’s endemic birds will lose an

average of 73% of their suitable areas by 2050” de Moraes, Kaue Felippe. Their least impactful

results show around 60% loss of habitat, while the most impactful results shown 82% loss. Many
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rainforest bird species cannot migrate to other areas as they are dependent on rainforest climate

and that alone.

Periodical cicadas are another species becoming affected by deforestation. Periodical

cicadas are cicadas who emerge every so many years. Deforestation has caused many of these

cicadas to be killed or dug up as trees are torn down. They spend most of their lives underneath

tree roots, feasting upon tree sap. The cicadas’ sense of time has been disrupted by warmer

summer weather and harsher winters (Sarah Bowman). Their only protection against predators

are their large population numbers. As trees are torn up and season cycles confuse the insects,

many numbers decline. “The range of cicadas that we see now is a fraction of what it would have

been, when the Native Americans were the only people around,” Martin Edwards, a professor of

biology at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. If deforestation continues, even such small

species as the Cicada will become extinct.

A lot of these events have either been caused by or have aided in the mass production of

CO2 (carbon dioxide). CO2 is a natural gas that we breathe out every day. When balanced and

produced in a natural manner, CO2 is necessary for the planet to survive. Every living organism

depends on CO2 in some shape or form. Plants use CO2 to produce oxygen, animals take in

oxygen to produce CO2. People use it to extinguish fires, power homes, and to carbonate drinks.

If CO2 is such a naturally produced gas, how is it harming millions of lives?

The planet’s atmosphere is only meant to hold and take in so much CO2. As human

population increases, more fossils fuels are becoming burnt up for things as such as electricity.

The burning of fossil fuels is a major player in high CO2 levels since it is the gas they produce

after a chemical reaction takes place. Increased CO2 in the atmosphere creates smog and

thickens the air. Our sun produces heat for the planet, and typically this heat would bounce right
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back out to create a sort of cycle. When our air becomes thickened the heat can no longer leave

Earth and therefore, becomes trapped. The largest contributor to increased CO2 is the removal of

trees. “The rainforests of the Amazon, the Congo basin and Indonesia are thought of as the lungs

of the planet,” Daniel Howden. By destroying these forests, we produce more CO2 than every

airflight in the history of aviation.

A phenomenon that is most often brought up to debate climate change are the reversing

of the magnetic poles. The magnetic reverse is simply when the North Pole becomes a South

Pole and vice versa. The Earth’s magnetic field protects us against space radiation and from

frying electrical circuits. This change happens every 200,000-300,000 years and brings effects

much like what we see within the global warming studies. “Pilots and astronauts can experience

higher levels of radiation during magnetic storms”, USGS. Radiation in our atmosphere shifts
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around which may cause warmer temperatures within the middle region (15-100km). The

changes in the planet’s magnetic field may cause ocean waters to be less CO2 soluble. This

would prevent ocean waters from absorbing CO2 and instead spreading it back into the

atmosphere.

Though the magnetic reverse would aid in climate change, it is not the only factor. The

weak magnetic shield does cause Earth’s air temperatures to rise as more rays are let in. Studies

performed in regions with a high rate of deforestation, are still the leading production of CO2.

The reversed poles would only cause that CO2 to stay in the atmosphere. The last reversal

happened around 42,000 years ago (npr.org). Many species had become extinct during that time

frame due to the sudden temperature changes and increased radioactivity

People have been battling the effects of climate change for over a decade now. They have

introduced such concepts of solar, wind power, and biofuels to cut down on the burning of fossil

fuels. The complete switch over to these newer, greener ways of fuel is still under debate to this

day. Many argue that solar, wind, and waterpower are too expensive to setup and are not capable

of powering the entire United States. All three renewable powers combined would be able to run

the United States at 100% (EWG). There are more than enough of these sources to power homes

30 times over. The biggest struggle the US faces in a renewable energy switch is its cost and

scouting out the desired areas for each plant. 55% of the United States’ energy will come from

renewable sources in the future.

The Paris Climate Agreement is a treaty signed by multiple nations in the fight back

against climate change. The treaty had been signed in on April 22, 2015 and had been effective

since 2016. It is an effort that all nations try to limit the global temperature increase to below

2.0C for this decade. It is to prevent further poverty, drought, and extreme heat across the globe
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(NRDC). The agreement has different rules for all nations involved, due to each individual

circumstance. All nations provide every year statistic on emissions produced, emissions saved,

temperature increase/decrease, and costs. They can adjust and refine expectations and goals to

the individual based on these numbers.

Wildlife conservationists are working hard to preserve land. Legislation has been passed

to help fund and protect conserves. The Endangered Species Act determines which regions are

under government protection. A lot of these protected areas are determined by examining the

habiting animal populations. If certain species, in that region, are beginning to see number

decreases the ESA (Endangered Species Act) may come in and set rules for that land. Some of

these rules may involve a prohibit on fishing, hunting, and camping.

The World Wildlife Fund is one of many organizations who are taking on conservation

tasks. Each team in the organization are responsible for the management of forests, oceans, the

arctic, and more. They are promoting policies to help fund forest conservation. WWF is pushing

for better management of what goes on in forests. “WWF works to strengthen the US

government’s ability to prosecute illegal timber cases”. For oceans, they are promoting volunteer

and community work to lessen our carbon footprint. Science and technology may provide the

key components to rebuild coastal ecosystems. This technology will also be able to aid people in

maintaining the ecosystems, so they do not get as bad ever again. ArcNet is WWF’s biggest plan

for conserving the arctic region. It may be used to develop permanent proposals in the planning

of marine systems and give efforts to fully watch over individual arctic organisms.

Assisted migration techniques are another method people are using to conserve animal

species that risk extinction. Many animal species have already suffered greatly from climate

change. They have lost their food, homes, and are not capable of surviving the new temperatures.
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People are creating or modifying current habitats to make them more suitable. A certain number

of these endangered species will then be relocated from the weather torn areas, into the modified

ones. People cannot change a species’ natural environment back to its original form in a fast

enough manner, so relocation is the only available option. While this relocation idea sounds

easy, it is still important efforts are focused on restabilizing the original land region. People

cannot simply remove all endangered species into new areas, or they risk overpopulation of that

region. Plenty of zoos are using their capabilities to hold a certain number of each species and to

strengthen their numbers. Conservationists cannot also only rely on zoos however, since many

use unregulated practices and only being able contain so many animals.

The world’s view on climate change is very divided. Some believe the threat of climate

change is only the government’s way of scaring people. Media stories can be viewed on both

sides, as humanitarian groups strive to get the word out. Media publishers who are more focused

on the wellness of an economy, will not 100% be striving for that greener future. The reality is

the complete switch over to a greener society may impact the economy slightly, but if society

stands back and does nothing, they risk a complete collapse. Businesses will not be able to run

off fossil fuels forever. Oil is expected to run out by 2052 at the current consumption rate

(mahb.stanford). The world will still have an amount of coal and gas left over by that time;

however, it’ll only be a matter of years before the remainder of that is burnt. Pushing for the

usage of renewable fuels now, will more greatly help society for the future. Affording the switch

to nonrenewable to renewable sources will be marked as impossible in an economic collapse. It

is also important society changes their view on solid wood. Many people buy into solid wood

furniture simply because “looks better” or “costs more”. Companies can use less wood in their
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products, houses are being built less dependent upon wood, and slowly paper is becoming a thing

of the past.

Animals are unaware of these changes until it is too late. They cannot control the

weather, or the number of emissions produced. People have caused these implications to the

planet, and it is their duty to help lessen the damage. If more species become extinct, future

generations will lose the ability to see them in person. It had always been a joy to see the

different animals and learn how they exist in their natural environments. Each environment is so

unique and diverse which generates just as unique species. There are threats of losing such well-

loved animals such as the Polar Bear and Sea Turtle. Imagine a world where we could no longer

see a living member in its’ natural setting.

Works Cited

Berwyn, Bob. “Unchecked Global Warming Could Collapse Whole Ecosystems, Maybe Within

10 Years; A new study shows that as rising heat drives some key species extinct, it will

affect other species, as well, in a domino effect.” InsideClimate News, 8 April 2020.

Brennan, E, Jean. “Global Warming Poses a Grave Threat to Wildlife.” Global Warming, edited by

Debra A, Miller, Greenhaven Press, 2013.

Bowman, Sarah, et al. “Will cicadas survive threats from climate change?” USA Today, 28 May

2021.

Climate Central. “A simple idea could help wildlife survive climate change.”

www.climatecentral.org.

De Moraes, Kaue Felippe, et al. “Climate change and bird extinctions in the Amazon.” PLoS

ONE, vol. 15, no.7, 2020.

EWG. “Is 100 Percent Renewable Energy for the U.S. Possible? Yes.” www.ewg.org. 2019.

Howden, Daniel. “Deforestation Contributes to Global Warming.” Global Warming, edited by

David Haugen, et al., Greenhaven Press, 2010.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.”Global Warming Will Accelerate Species Decline,

edited by Viqi Wagner, Greenhaven Press, 2008.

Million Species.” Global Warming, edited by Debra A. Miller, Greenhaven Press, 2008.

World Wildlife Fund.” https://www.worldwildlife.org “. World Wildlife Fund, 2021.

NASA.”Arctic Sea Minimum” https://climate.nasa.gov. 2021

NOAA Climate.”Climate Change: Global Sea Level.” www.climate.gov. 2021

NRDC. “Paris Climate Agreement” www.nrdc.org, 2019.

USGS.” How can climate change affect natural disasters?” www.usgs.gov, 2021.
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Yale. “90 Percent of U.S. could be powered by Renewables by 2035.” https://e360.yale.edu. Jun 12,

2020