Wildlife & Biodiversity

IN PHOTOS: Climate change can wipe out these species, says IUCN

Climate change is causing physiological, behavioural, ecological and other types of changes that could lead to their eventual extinction
Climate change and extreme weather are a threat to 11,000 plants, animals and fungi, according to The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. One of them is the Komodo dragon, seen here, the largest lizard in the world. Rising global temperature and subsequent sea levels are expected to reduce its habitat by at least 30 per cent in the next 45 years. Photo: iStock
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Climate change and extreme weather are a threat to 11,000 species of plants, animals and fungi, according to The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. One of them is the Komodo dragon, seen here, the largest lizard in the world. Rising global temperature and subsequent sea levels are expected to reduce its habitat by at least 30 per cent in the next 45 years. Photo: iStock
Climate change and extreme weather are a threat to 11,000 species of plants, animals and fungi, according to The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. One of them is the Komodo dragon, seen here, the largest lizard in the world. Rising global temperature and subsequent sea levels are expected to reduce its habitat by at least 30 per cent in the next 45 years. Photo: iStock
Rising sea temperatures have caused many fish in the North Atlantic Ocean north in search of cooler havens. This has reduced food availability for Atlantic puffins across Europe and North America, according to IUCN. For instance, populations off the Rost Archipelago, Norway, have decreased by 80 per cent in recent decades. Similarly, in the Gulf of Maine in North America, chicks have had a 90 per cent failure to fledge in 2021 due to low food availability and nests being flooded by the heaviest rains the region has seen in 100 years. Photo: iStock
Rising sea temperatures have caused many fish in the North Atlantic Ocean north in search of cooler havens. This has reduced food availability for Atlantic puffins across Europe and North America, according to IUCN. For instance, populations off the Rost Archipelago, Norway, have decreased by 80 per cent in recent decades. Similarly, in the Gulf of Maine in North America, chicks have had a 90 per cent failure to fledge in 2021 due to low food availability and nests being flooded by the heaviest rains the region has seen in 100 years. Photo: iStock
Climate change is also causing changes among species themselves. For instance, rising temperatures have led to ecological changes including the migration of pink salmon to Arctic rivers. Photo: iStock
Climate change is also causing changes among species themselves. For instance, rising temperatures have led to ecological changes including the migration of pink salmon to Arctic rivers. Photo: iStock
Among green turtles, the sex ratio is now dangerously skewed with females accounting for 99 per cent of newly hatched turtles on some nesting beaches. This is due to rising temperatures caused by climate change. Photo: iStock
Among green turtles, the sex ratio is now dangerously skewed with females accounting for 99 per cent of newly hatched turtles on some nesting beaches. This is due to rising temperatures caused by climate change. Photo: iStock
Biodiversity in India is also suffering due to climate change. For instance, the Malabar River lily, found only on the coast of Kerala, depends on seasonal streams. “Any disruption of the duration of flow in the streams appears likely to disrupt flowering and seed-set which would eventually cause the five known populations to collapse,” the IUCN has said. Photo: iStock
Biodiversity in India is also suffering due to climate change. For instance, the Malabar River lily, found only on the coast of Kerala, depends on seasonal streams. “Any disruption of the duration of flow in the streams appears likely to disrupt flowering and seed-set which would eventually cause the five known populations to collapse,” the IUCN has said. Photo: iStock
World
Extreme Weather Events
Turtles
komodo dragon
Alaska salmon
malabar river lily
puffins
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