Impact of Environmental Change
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 7.2.3
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:
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.
Water
- Wildebeests migrate annually from the Serengeti plains of Tanzania Northwards into Kenya to track seasonal changes in rainfall patterns.
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.
Test yourself on Impact of Environmental Change
Why can polar bears no longer hunt their main food source as global temperatures rise?
How does an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide affect coral reefs?
Why do wildebeest migrate from the Serengeti in Tanzania into Kenya?
Select the correct statement in each pair.