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As global warming continues to ravage the planet, Sam focuses on the impact of global warming on Arctic animals
by Sam R.
Published January 26, 2024
Animals in the arctic are losing their homes rapidly because of the effects of global warming. If we don't find solutions to this we might lose animals that are important to other species' survival.
First of all, according to the Marine Mammal Commission, sea ice is declining rapidly in both quantity and quality with consequences for marine mammals that rely on sea ice platforms for foraging and resting. These “ice-obligate” marine mammals include polar bears, walruses, and bearded and ringed seals. One of the reasons why is because of global warming. Global warming is causing ice to get thinner and thinner making it hard for animals to live in their habitat.
Another consequence of global warming is the loss of sea ice causes ocean warming, stronger winds and currents, and accelerated shoreline erosion in Arctic communities. Marine mammals confined to the Arctic are uniquely adapted to life in icy waters, so with global warming melting the ice and heating up the ocean our planet is in danger. An example from CarbonBrief of how the decline in sea ice is affecting Arctic marine mammals is the polar bear, which relies upon sea ice to hunt seals. Generally, as the ice thickness decreases, polar bears must spend more time and travel greater distances in search of prey, which can result in poor body condition and reduced reproductive success.
Other animals are also affected by this change. The Center for Biological Diversity says that the ringed seal uses dense ice to make burrows for shelter from weather and predation. With global warming thinning layers of ice, these seals will not be able to get the same protection they are used to. Which may affect their pups when they grow to adulthood.
Many marine animals will be indirectly affected as the food webs on which they depend undergo changes. With effects on the food chain some species will most likely go extinct. If these animals go extinct it could throw off the world balance.
In conclusion, animals are affected by global warming because it can affect their habitat, their food chain, and their reproduction. These are only a few of many animals that are in grave danger because of global warming.
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