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How does climate change affect ecosystems?
Animals are going to be shifting with the climate so it will mean an earlier migration. The Eastern United States is going to lose many of its forests because the climate zones are shifting toward the North. These animals will start shifting northwards, while more mountain regions will see more species and ecosystems. Species in specific ecosystems are going to face dwindling numbers because the temperature will affect them. For example, the ice is melting. polar bears need ice to hunt their only prey; seals. Without enough ice for the seals the polar bears will starve, die and maybe even go extinct. The heating of the world is decreasing the amount of ice in the Arctic and Antarctica. Climate change is going to reduce the ability to improve the quality of water and the flow. Glaciers are often sources for natural water, but the heating of the world might melt them. Also, the chances of having natural disasters are going to increase when the climate warms. Climate change, combined with other stressors is going to overwhelm the capacity of ecosystems which will cause extreme events such as fires, floods, and heavy storms. Stressor is environmental stress that refers to chemical and biological constraints on the production of species. Plants and trees in forests may also become unrecognizable because the seasons are changing, this will alter the growth and development of the plants.