| Effects of global warming are already being felt on | | | | happen in a synchronized way, for example if |
| plant and animal species across the world; although | | | | butterflies emerge before the flowers they depend |
| the most dramatic effects may not be felt for | | | | on for survival, then we could see many of the rarer, |
| decades, according to studies. | | | | regional species being wiped out. |
| Climate variability and change can affect plants and | | | | Geographic ranges of some plants and animals have |
| animals in a number of ways; birds are laying eggs | | | | shifted northward and upward in elevation. A good |
| earlier in the year than usual, plants are blooming | | | | example of this is the red fox; this species has |
| earlier and mammals are coming out of hibernation | | | | moved north and is now getting close to the arctic |
| sooner than in previous decades. Distribution of | | | | fox's range, threatening its survival. Similar range |
| animals is also affected; many species are moving | | | | shifts have also been observed within the United |
| closer to the poles as a response to the global | | | | States in birds, mammals and plants. |
| temperature increasing. Birds are migrating and | | | | The case of the red fox is interesting, but what if |
| arriving earlier at their nesting grounds, and the | | | | these animals can't move to cooler climates - huge |
| nesting grounds that they are moving to are not as | | | | safari parks in Africa home some of the rarest |
| far away as they used to be and in some countries | | | | animals on the planet, including African Wild Dogs |
| the birds don't even leave anymore, as the climate is | | | | which are already close to extinction - where do |
| suitable all year round. | | | | these animals go? Are we in our efforts to protect |
| These changes are not to harmful as long as the | | | | then, really killing them? |