Title: A presentation developed by the National Academy of Sciences based on its report Ecological Impacts
1National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council
A presentation developed by the National Academy
of Sciences based on its report Ecological
Impacts of Climate Change (2009)
www.nas.edu/climatechange.
2The Climate is Changing
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council
- Temperatures are rising
- Sea levels are rising
- The ocean is acidifying
- Climate change is reflected in water cycle
changes and in extreme weather
Temperature rise, indicated by color (redhigher
rate of increase). Earths surface temperature
has risen 1.3 F since 1850.
Image courtesy of the Joint Institute for the
Study of the Atmosphere Ocean, U. of
Washington.
3Ecological Impacts
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council
- Living things are intimately connected to their
physical surroundings. - Ecosystems are affected by changes in
- temperature
- rainfall/moisture
- pH
- salinity (saltiness)
- activities distribution of other species
- many other factors
4Ecological Impacts
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council
- As a result of climate change, species and
ecosystems are experiencing changes in - ranges
- timing of biological activity
- growth rates
- relative abundance of species
- cycling of water and nutrients
- the risk of disturbance from fire, insects, and
invasive species
5Ecological Impacts
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council
- As a result of climate change, species and
ecosystems are experiencing changes in - ranges
- timing of biological activity
- growth rates
- relative abundance of species
- cycling of water and nutrients
- the risk of disturbance from fire, insects, and
invasive species
6Range Shifts
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council
- Species are relocating to areas with more
tolerable climate conditions. - Range shifts particularly threaten species that
- cannot move fast enough
- depend on conditions that are becoming more rare
(like sea ice)
Plant hardiness zone maps, 1990 and 2006. Most
zones shifted northward in this period.
Map courtesy of the National Arbor Day
Foundation.
7Ecological Impacts
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council
- As a result of climate change, species and
ecosystems are experiencing changes in - ranges
- timing of biological activity
- growth rates
- relative abundance of species
- cycling of water and nutrients
- the risk of disturbance from fire, insects, and
invasive species
8Timing of Biological Activity
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council
- Some seasonal biological activities are happening
15-20 days earlier than several decades ago - Trees blooming earlier
- Migrating birds arriving earlier
- Butterflies emerging earlier
- Changes in timing differ from species to species,
so ecological interactions are disrupted.
European pied flycatcher chicks are now born
later than the caterpillars they eat.
Images used under the terms of the GNU Free
Documentation License.
9Global Changes, Local Impacts
National Academy of Sciences National Academy of
Engineering Institute of Medicine National
Research Council
- Although climate change is global, the ecological
impacts are often local.
Whats happening in your backyard?