Paper Details  
 
   

Has Bibliography
5 Pages
1233 Words

 
   
   
    Filter Topics  
 
     
   
 

Climate Change and Evolution

e greatly impacted by global climate change. The biggest concern for plants is that they cannot just get up and move. Based on current computer models depicting future trends in climate change, many plant species in the northern hemisphere, mainly Russia and Canada, would have to migrate by up to one kilometer per year, a rate that many plants just cannot accomplish. Complicating the process further is the interference of humans in migratory paths. Plants will have to overcome physical barriers established by man such as roads, cities and neighborhoods. Furthermore, plants considered weeds or regarded as intrusive will move into populated areas only to be exterminated with herbicides and other chemical intensive processes. With the deck stacked against them, many species simply will not be able to adapt or migrate and will go extinct.Sea Level RiseAs the climate warms, the water in the oceans is expected to rise through the process of thermal expansion and the melting of polar ice caps and mountain glaciers. Rising seas would inundate low-lying deltas and other coastal areas, erode beaches and contaminate inland water supplies and aquifers. The sea level is expected to rise by up to one meter over the next century and continue to rise over the next few centuries. As the seawater forces wetlands to move further ashore, many species will have to make the shift as well. Wetlands are delicate ecosystems however and cannot regenerate themselves fast enough to withstand the rising seas. This will cause massive loss of habitat over the next century. Wetlands that do successfully move into areas previously considered dry lands will eventually meet with obstacles such as seawalls, dikes, cliffs and cities and will not be able continue their onshore shift. This loss of habitat could signal the extinction of many shorebirds, amphibians, insects and various forms of aquatic life that rely on coastal wetlands for survival. ConclusionBeyond taking s...

< Prev Page 3 of 5 Next >

    More on Climate Change and Evolution...

    Loading...
 
Copyright © 1999 - 2024 CollegeTermPapers.com. All Rights Reserved. DMCA