consequences of climate change

• Isolated populations


  Small populations may become isolated for the rest of their population's existence when sea levels rise and create islands
• Consequences of global climate change

  • Ecological changes
  • Changes in species survival due to abiotic factors
  • Increased rate of growth in plants
  • Increased toxins
  • Disturbed hibernation
  • Smaller populations may not be viable and die out
  • Changes in ecosystem synchronicity
  • Increased spread of parasites and diseases
  • Changes in species distribution
• Temperature increase


  Causes sea level rises and creates islands
• Photosynthesis increase


  Results in an increased rate of growth in plants
• Warmer climates


  Increase the range and breeding sites of vectors, which will increase the spread of parasites and diseases
• The gene pool would become limited in the plants, which makes inbreeding more likely
• Smaller populations might not be viable and die out
• Ecosystem


  The community of organisms living in an area
• Hibernation


  A state of inactivity and a decreased metabolism in endotherms to conserve energy during periods when food is not available
• Synchronicity


  Arriving to a new location too early or too late
• Climate change


  May lead to changes in the timings of ecological events so the survival of interdependent species may be reduced
• Warmer and wetter climates = increase in the range and breeding sites of vectors which will increase the spread of parasites and diseases
• The distribution of species may change due to the change in the conditions
• Species may colonise new areas slower than the previous habitats are disappearing
• Human land use may block movement so not all species can move at the same speed
• What makes a species vulnerable to extinction by climate change

  • Small ranges of tolerance
  • Specialist species
  • Slow migrators/colonisers
  • Insular species
  • High latitudes and elevations