Climate change is having a huge effect on the variety of life on Earth and is causing more species to go extinct. As the Earth gets warmer and weather becomes more unpredictable, many plants and animals have a hard time adjusting. This can lead to fewer of them surviving or even disappearing completely.
Loss of Homes: Rising sea levels and severe weather can destroy important places where animals and plants live, like wetlands and coral reefs. For example, coral reefs, which are often called the "rainforests of the sea," are dying because the water is warmer and more acidic.
Moving to New Places: Many animals and plants are moving to cooler areas, like mountains or closer to the poles. This can create competition for food and space, which can lead to problems with people, too. A good example is the Arctic fox, which is encountering new competitors because of climate change.
Ecosystem Disruption: Changes in temperature and rainfall can upset the natural balance of ecosystems, which are the communities of plants and animals that depend on each other. For instance, if a plant starts to bloom earlier because of the warmth, it might not match up with the life cycles of the insects that help it grow.
In short, climate change is a serious danger to the diversity of life on our planet. Experts say that about 1 million species could be at risk of going extinct in the next few decades if we don’t act quickly to address these issues.
Climate change is having a huge effect on the variety of life on Earth and is causing more species to go extinct. As the Earth gets warmer and weather becomes more unpredictable, many plants and animals have a hard time adjusting. This can lead to fewer of them surviving or even disappearing completely.
Loss of Homes: Rising sea levels and severe weather can destroy important places where animals and plants live, like wetlands and coral reefs. For example, coral reefs, which are often called the "rainforests of the sea," are dying because the water is warmer and more acidic.
Moving to New Places: Many animals and plants are moving to cooler areas, like mountains or closer to the poles. This can create competition for food and space, which can lead to problems with people, too. A good example is the Arctic fox, which is encountering new competitors because of climate change.
Ecosystem Disruption: Changes in temperature and rainfall can upset the natural balance of ecosystems, which are the communities of plants and animals that depend on each other. For instance, if a plant starts to bloom earlier because of the warmth, it might not match up with the life cycles of the insects that help it grow.
In short, climate change is a serious danger to the diversity of life on our planet. Experts say that about 1 million species could be at risk of going extinct in the next few decades if we don’t act quickly to address these issues.