Some are more at risk than others. “Species with small population sizes, restricted ranges, and limited ability to move to different habitat will be most at risk,” reports the National Audubon Society. “Similarly, different habitats and ecosystems will be impacted differently, with those in coastal, high-latitude, and high-altitude regions most vulnerable.”
Audubon also reports that the timing of reproductive events (egg-laying, flowering, spawning) across different species that depend on each other is happening earlier than ever “in some cases interrupting delicate cycles that ensure that insects and other food are available for young animals.”
Another leading conservation group, Defenders of Wildlife, has detailed how a long list of other North American fauna is in decline as a result of global warming.
While the problem is serious and many leaders is serious denial, you can still be part of the solution.
- Swap incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) or, even better, the new generation of LED bulbs.
- Bike, walk and take mass transit more.
- Drive your car less.
- Telecommute when you can.
- Try to source as much of your food and other goods locally to cut down on carbon-heavy transcontinental freight shipping.
Source: Based on an article in "EarthTalk"®, a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (http://www.emagazine.com/). You may be interested in the online archive of past EarthTalk articles or in the EarthTalk article news feed.
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