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Because of climate change on Earth, humanity is at risk lose up to 30 percent of animal and plant species. How to find out scientists, living organisms do not have time to adapt to weather changes. At the same time, according to researchers, as a result new ecosystems may appear
Temperature rise, desertification of land, water loss, caused by global climate change on the planet – the main causes of biodiversity decline. Recent research show that off the coast of North America where the temperature jumps are especially noticeable, the number of salmonids in recent years decreased dozens of times. In the coming years, they can forever fade coral reefs. High air temperatures deprive them nutrients, which leads to their discoloration and death.
Decrease in precipitation and increase in hot periods in Australia puts on the brink of extinction many species of marsupial animals, including including a kangaroo. A drier and less predictable climate in Africa Sub-Saharan Africa has significantly reduced the habitat of elephants.
Due to climate change, some may disappear forever. elements of landscapes. So, the alpine ecosystem began to collapse meadows, which are rapidly replaced by forests. Alpine aster black sedge, other meadow grasses cannot survive in the shade of trees. Because of this, meadow plants that have existed for centuries can be preserved. only in small areas.
Scientists noted that some more resistant species migrated at the poles to maintain the habitat they need, says Lecturer at the Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy, biologist Sergey Kruchina:
“Southern species of insects appeared in the Moscow region, including including pests. There are more plant diseases that characteristic of the southern regions. We can say that the southern heat-loving animals and plants are slowly moving to the North. Any summer resident in the Central region knows that it is already growing quietly grapes, southern fruit crops grow well. ”
Recent studies show that change is the strongest The climate is felt in high latitudes. So, noticeably decreased sea ice, as well as seasonal snow distribution areas cover.
All this negatively affects the northern inhabitants, tells the coordinator of biodiversity conservation projects Arctic WWF Russia Michael WWF Stishov:
“Walruses and polar bears suffer primarily. For example, the polar bear is used to hunting on ice, now it’s bad with ice, and in the summer, a critical period begins for him. Then small he picks out rodents, then he tries to hunt bird colonies and more often comes to villages. This increases the frequency of meetings with human and potential conflict situations, which often leads to the deaths of both people and bears. Approximately the same situation with walruses. Them getting harder. This is also an ice view, and they are ashore come out extremely reluctantly. ”
An increase in temperature can affect not only size ice sheet of the Arctic. According to a recent study, warming on Earth will cause even large predators to time will significantly decrease in size. Once it’s already happened about 55 million years ago. It was the period with the most strong and sharp warming since the extinction of the dinosaurs. Scientists suggest that animals were reduced due to lack of nutrition: with a high level of carbon dioxide, plants are less nutritious.
Current studies show that current climate changes will occur two to three times faster. And that means that animals and plants will have to change quickly in order to survive in new conditions. New combinations of species and communities that will create previously unknown ecosystems.
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