Arctic animals, their habitats and climate change.

WickedWeatherWatch:talkingtoyoungpeopleaboutclimatechange

•  Polardesertsintheverynorth(theHighArc:c)•  Tundrainthemiddle-treelessplainsoverfrozenground•  Thetaiga-borealforestsinthesouth(LowArc:c)

The three main Arctic habitats are:

Animals•  Polarbear•  Walrus•  Arc:cfox•  Arc:chare•  Arc:cwolf•  Seals•  Whales•  Snowyowl•  Greenlandshark•  Narwhal

Impacts of climate change •  Iceismel:ngonlandand

sea-lossofhabitatforanimals.

•  Glaciersarereceding.•  TheseaisgeInglesssalty–

newspeciesarecomingfurthernorth.

•  Mel:ngicemeansanimalshavetotravelfurthertofindfood.

Polar Desert

Animals•  Arc:cfox•  Arc:chare•  Polarbear•  Caribou•  Ermine(mink)•  Lemming•  MuskOx•  Vole•  Weasel•  Wolf

Impacts of climate change•  AreageIngsmaller–animalsfaceincreasingcompe::onforspaceandfood.

•  Permafrostismel:ng.•  Mining/drillingisincreasinghabitatloss.

•  Humansaremovingfurthernorth,comingintocompe::onwithanimals.

•  Lossofmossesandlichens–keyfoodsforsomeanimalssuchascaribou.

Tundra

Animals•  Arc:cfox•  Arc:chare•  Arc:cwolf•  Badger•  Baldeagle•  Blackandbrownbear•  Beaver•  Caribou•  Ermine(mink)•  Wolverine

•  Dallsheep•  Lynx•  Moose•  Muskox•  Lemming•  Husky•  Graywolf•  Greathornedowl•  Muskrat•  Reindeer•  Geese

Taiga Impacts of climate change•  Treelineandvegeta:onis

movingnorth–moretreesmeanssomeanimalshavemorefood.

•  Moreforestfires.TemporarylossofhabitatforanimalsandreleaseofC02intotheair.

Overall Arctic climate trends and impact on animals

Climatetrends•  Overallwarming•  Morerain,lesssnow•  RiversgeIngfuller,

faster•  Seasonschanging–

springstar:ngearlier

Impactonanimals•  Habitatloss•  Lessfoodorhavingtogo

furthertofindfoodorincreasedcompe::onforfood

•  Breedingseasonschanging

•  Speciesbumpingintoeachother!

Above:Apizzlyorgrolar–occurswhenapolarbearwhichhastravelledsouthmateswithagrizzlybearwhichhastravellednorth.