Bison scattered along the landscape of Yellowstone National Park. Photo courtesy of Madeline Hirshan.
Climate change is a very current and pressing issue that is likely to have severe implications such as rising sea levels and increased extreme weather events. Humans are likely to be affected by these changes as will other animals that roam the Earth. Wildlife rely so heavily on the environment that is destined to be altered by impending climate change. They have specific needs for resources, such as food and shelter that only their environment can provide. Wildlife depend on certain temperature cues or ranges for normal life processes such as laying eggs and migrating. Global warming could possibly alter these “cues,” as well as present other challenges like changes in home ranges and mating patterns, and forest depletion due to heat stresses. Scientists are working to uncover how wildlife are responding to these environmental changes in current warming, as well as making projections about effects of increased future warming.