7.2.2

Environmental Change

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Environmental Changes and Their Impact

Environmental change affects the distribution (spread) of species, and in extreme cases, their longevity (how long they survive). Such environmental changes include:

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Temperature

  • Polar bears hunt seals on floating sea ice.
  • Increasing temperatures cause this ice to melt. This means that the polar bears are no longer able to hunt their main food source.
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Water

  • Wildebeests migrate annually from the Serengeti plains of Tanzania Northwards into Kenya to track seasonal changes in rainfall patterns.
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Atmospheric gases

  • Carbon dioxide dissolves in water and increases the water acidity.
  • Acidic water hinders corals' ability to build a skeleton. This means that the increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere prevents coral growth.

Causes of Environmental Changes

Environmental changes can come about for many different reasons, including:

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Seasons

  • Many countries have rainy and dry seasons.
  • The difference in temperature between winter and summer drives birds on worldwide migrations.
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Humans

  • Through the burning of fossil fuels, humans increase the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases.
  • People can change water availability through the building of large dams. The pollution of water sources can make them toxic to wildlife.
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Geological activity

  • Volcanic eruptions change the composition of atmospheric gases.
  • Storms and droughts change the availability of water.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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