Global Warming Question, Essay Example

Thesis

Global warming is a global phenomenon that is threatening the survival of species. In its manifestation as rising sea levels, high levels of temperatures and melting ice, climate change has been a significant threat to animals and plants in all continents across the globe. Species have been displaced out of their natural habitations and food shortages attributed to global warming is a contributor to the extinction of plant and animals.

Research Question

Global warming is the leading cause of species extinction in most continents of the world. What is the contribution of human activities in extinction of species and what steps can be done to prevent future threat to the species?

According to the article entitled “How does climate change cause extinction?” that is authored by Abigail E. C., Aiello-Lammens, M., E. M., Fisher-Reid, C., Hua, X., Karanewsky, C. J., Hae Yeong, R., Gena. C. Sbeglia, F., Spagnolo, J. B., Waldron, O. W.i & John J. W., a widespread extinction of populations of animals and plants is attributed to climate change that result from human activities.

According to Dr. Wiens, climate change is in most cases attributed to local extinctions. Dr. Wiens also argues that, the possibility of declining extinction cannot be underestimated which has significant implications to interactions of species like the reduction of the populations of prey for the predators. Such interactions are capable of compounding the diminutive climate changes to negatively affect the survival of animal as well as plant species. For instance, most of the animals may undergo starvation that could potentially result to their deaths due to climate changes way ahead of the reaching the maximum temperatures that can cause death due to overheating.

James Hansen, “Global Warming Twenty Years Later” However indicate that there is a gap of knowledge concerning the causes of such extinctions. Hansen indicates a contradiction of the expectations attributed to global warming citing that, the study indicates that only a few populations have undergone extinction as a result of high temperatures that affect the survival of plants and animals.

Justen Everage in the article “List of Endangered Animals Due to Global Warming” has highlighted the significant contribution of global warming to potential displacement and extinction of species. It is anticipated that, even the minimal temperature variations have the capability of causing extinction of the species that are already struggling if appropriate measures of addressing the causes of climate change are not given priority attention. This article also highlights the importance of taking timely measures. Available statistics indicate that, extinction of the highly sensitive habitats has already taken place as a result of global warming and more species are anticipated to follow this trend in the next 50-100 years.

According to a synthesis by Dr. Parmesan, the evolution of species is slow to the extent of being overtaken by extinction. The availability of a variety of literature on this subject facilitates a comprehensive synthesis by analyzing different patterns of extinction from these sources.

According the article “Mass Extinction Underway, Majority of Biologists Say” by Joby Warrick, most of the biologists perceive an imminent mass extinction in as far as animal and plants are concerned. This extinction is seen to be threat to human life in the near future although most be people have little awareness of the issue. The speedy vanishing of these important species ranked highest in seriousness among the environmental concerns including pollution, depletion of ozone layer and green house gas emissions.

The implication of the mass extinction of species has significant implications on diversity. The author clearly indicates that, the rate of extinction is now faster than ever before and cannot be compared with the mass extinction that was as a result of meteor collision which contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs approximately 65 million years in the past.

Most of the scientists are of the opinion that mass extinction is imminent with others anticipating a disappearance of the entire living species in the next 30 years. The loss is directly linked to human activities that promote global warming including destruction of animal as well as plants habitats.

The authors also give the opinions of nonconformists which quote non existent of sufficient information in support of the claims of the imminence of mass extinction. The dissenters are of the opinion that, the estimated species extinction is actual extrapolations on the basis of destruction of the rain forests alongside the rich habitats across the continents.

The species that are primarily adapted to the habitats associated with cold climate and the ones with narrow tolerance of temperature are at a higher risk of extinction due to global warming. The trend noticed among the sensitive species in as far as climate changes are concerned is towards extinction or a shift in their geographical range with a continued hostility of their original habitats. The only species that are likely to persist are the ones that adapt comfortably a wide range of environment. The study also indicates that, species with short generations as is the case of insects are evolving in reaction to global warming although this development can not shield them from extinction.

The articles share common grounds concerning the significance of the threat of global warming to the survival of species. The authors are keen to support the contribution of global warming in changing the natural habits of the most sensitive species and thereby resulting to their extinction. The article entitled “How does climate change cause extinction?” indicates that extinction of populations of animals and plants is attributed to climate change that results from human activities. On the other hand the article “List of Endangered Animals Due to Global Warming” has highlighted the significant contribution of global warming to potential displacement and extinction of species. Equally important is the article “Mass Extinction Underway, Majority of Biologists Say” by Joby Warrick, which gives the perception of most of the biologists on an imminent mass extinction of animal and plants are concerned.

The planet is in danger of unprecedented rate of extinction of some species which is a threat to ecological communities. The issue has serious implications to the human life in addition to the economy. Global warming has caused some changes in the rainfall patterns which is consequently leading to flooding in addition to submerging of many cities, coastlines and causing drastic reduction in crop production. The solution to this problem lies in effective ratification as well as implementation of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol that aims cutting down the extent of emissions of green house gases and laws by developing nations to reduce these emissions.

Works Cited

Abigail E. C., Aiello-Lammens, M., E. M., Fisher-Reid, C., Hua, X., Karanewsky, C. J., Hae Yeong, R., Gena. C. Sbeglia, F., Spagnolo, J. B., Waldron, O. W.i & John J. W., “How does climate change cause extinction?”

James Hansen, “Global Warming Twenty Years Later”

Joby Warrick “Mass Extinction Underway, Majority of Biologists Say” The Washington Post – Washington, D.C. 1998.

Justen Everage in the article “List of Endangered Animals Due to Global Warming”