Living on the Coast, my community tends to be affected by the ocean and the animals living in it. When I was younger, a trip to the beach meant I could walk on a near clean beach, spot marine birds, and the local sea lions. However, due to rising climate temperature and the effects that global warming has on the environment, the Coastal zones are changing.
Most of the Coast and Marine waters have been polluted by the expanding urbanization around us. This causes many beaches and waters to be filled with trash, toxic materials and unwelcome bacteria. These foreign objects polluting the waters have negatively affected the marine wildlife living in Coastal environments. Sea level temperatures rising can affect where species live and affect their lifestyle. It could even endanger species, forcing some into extinction. Rising temperatures directly affect a marine animal’s metabolism, life cycle and behavior. The increase of temperature can result in some marine animals engaging in reproduction and mating earlier than usual, risking the survival rate of the offspring. If offspring don’t survive, this can risk the population numbers, sending species near extinction.
Over 200,000 different species live in our oceans, all depending on different ocean environments to survive. The rising of temperature affects some species that require cold water to survive, this forces fish and other species to migrate North to colder waters. It has also affected the Caribbean and warmer waters because the water is too warm, causing coral to die. The lack of coral in a habitat will force fish move because they rely on coral and the bacteria around it to survive. In dense coral habitat, over 70% have been bleached by the warm waters. Some species are even losing their homes, like the penguins and polar bears. The melting of ice on each pole has driven both the penguins from the South and polar bears from the North, to migrate inland because the ice near the coast is continuing to melt.
(Rising Sea Temperatures)
Climate change has also had an effect on rising sea levels. The rising sea level seriously impacts marine ecosystem because the amount of light shining through the water to be reduced. This causes photosynthesis to decrease. If the sea level keeps increasing, then the water will affect many baylands, mangroves and wetlands. These habitats will become flooded, forcing the inhabitants to flee to higher grounds. As the sea level reaches further inland, it can also have a damaging effect on the communities near it because it can cause erosion, contaminate locals farms and create the land unsuitable for town construction.
Humans have not helped the animals adapt to the new climate temperature. Humans have invaded on animal territory building dams, bridges, draining lakes and using nearby lakes and rivers for irrigation farming. The article The Ethics of Adaptation to Global Warming written by Kathleen Dean Moore says, “Plants and animals are challenged to adapt not only to climate change itself, but now to the bulwarks and dams and diversions humans are erecting to protect themselves. Some species will adapt, it’s true. But for all but (arguably) one species, adaptation is not about technology or business acumen. Species adapt when individuals live or die,and adaptation happens faster when more of them die. Adaptation is driven by starving nestlings and kits drowned in the den and the seared roots of seedlings.” The rapid change in climate is making it very difficult for animals to adapt and intruding humans are not helping.
To sum it up, global warming is affecting animals as much or even more as it is affecting humans. We have the power to slow down global warming and help more animals adapt to changes in temperature. We should do everything we can to make sure animals are as safe as they can be.
I agree, our whole ecosystem relays on water, and the warmer temperatures are messing up an animals natural habitat. We as humans should try to do more than just talk because our future and the animals future depend on it. People should put their words into actions, but that is harder said than done.
I completely agree with you. I don’t think many people really understand that global warming isn’t just affecting humans, but it is affecting the lives of animals as well. Some species are going extinct because of climate change, which is really scary. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is being affected tremendously by climate change and there is nothing people can do to fix the damage that has been done already. People need to start thinking about how climate change is affecting every living organism on our planet, rather than just how it is affecting humans. There are other lives at risk here, not just ours.
I like how you focus mainly on the sea because that’s where you spent a lot of time in your childhood. I also spent a ton of time at the beach, exploring sea creatures, and it’s sad to see the effects of climate change, and even human advancement, on animals. I like your final paragraph where you point out that it affects more than just humans. Thats totally true and definitely not something most people think about!
Change in water temperature is a serious thing. Many marine animals are cold blooded which means that their rate of matabolism depends on the temperature of the environment; water. As temperatures change their ability to survive changes which creates a domino effect. If the main food source of one animal does off due to climate change then that second species is dramatically effected, and so on down a chain. The animals need us to fight climate change just as we humans need climate change to be fought.
You bring up a good point in the end of your post. You state that in addition to the challenges animals must face regarding climate change, they must also adapt to human caused environment change. Whether it be dams, bridges, or draining lakes, humans are hindering many animals ability to survive and adapt to the already quickly changing environment. It is important, when talking about climate change, to look at the big picture, and to consider all aspects of it, not just a rising global temperature or increased greenhouse gas levels, but also changing environments and habits for many animals, and not in a good way.
I definitely agree with this post. I think you bring up a great point about how humans are so worried about how global warming will affect them and their ways of life, but it is rare to have people think about the other millions of species that will be effected by global warming more than we are. Instead of having parts of their land become flooded, or having slightly higher temperatures, many species including aquatic life are literally having their ecosystem destroyed because of these climate changes. Even though some people say they may just be animals, but they are essential to the global ecosystem and are a beautiful part of the world. If people don’t start to think about other species and ecosystems besides our own, we will lose many of the world’s natural beauties.
I totally relate to your blog because I too live on the coast and have noticed many changes happening on the beaches. Thought my childhood and still today, when I’m home, I go to the beach at least twice a week. I have noticed that there are (as sad as this is) more dead animals being washed up onto shore. It always has upset me. One thing I really enjoyed was the “Ethics of Adaptation to Global Warming.”
This particularly saddens me because these animals don’t have a say in the matter, they can’t do preventative actions to help their fellow wildlife. That is in our hands, we have a obligation to help those who can’t necessarily help themselves, and in this case these wildlife animals are being heavily affected by climate change and global warming. So in working towards prolonging global warming, we are not only helping ourselves but helping the little creatures out there that need all the help they can get.
I saw somewhere that the seals were up north further than they have ever been. This is obviously because the water temperature has risen. It is awful because they have their habitat that they usually stay in, and it could change the ecosystems. The climate change is changing more than just our lives.
I love the quote that you pulled out from the article “The Ethics of Adaptation to Global Warming”. It was extremely impactful and true. I think if we start to look at the species that global warming has already directly affected maybe we will become more inspired to change our ways of lives. I think that it is horrific how horrible these animals habitats and lives have become, mostly because of the things humans have been doing.