What Is climate Change
Climate can be thought of as the average or typical weather conditions we experience. Scientists know that climate varies naturally on many timescales and they know that people are affecting climate – particularly through emissions of greenhouse gases.
Importance of trees
Younger trees absorb carbon dioxide quickly while they are growing, but as a tree ages a steady state is eventually reached, and at this point the amount of carbon absorbed through photosynthesis is similar to that lost through respiration and decay. If trees are harvested carefully near this time in the growth cycle, and new trees are planted or allowed to regenerate, then this can keep the forest as a net “sink” of carbon. Therefore careful woodland management can mean that woodlands are able to take up the maximum amount of carbon possible.
Trees can tell us a lot about climate change Read more
Climate Change wild animals and birds
Climate change affects birds in different ways. It can alter distribution, abundance, behaviour, even genetic composition. It can also affect the timing of events like migration or breeding.
Climate change can affect birds directly, through changes in temperature or rainfall. It can also lead to increased pressure from competitors, predators, parasites, diseases and disturbances like fires or storms.
Climate change also can act in combination with other major threats like habitat loss and alien invasive species, making the overall impact worse.
Because birds are one of the best studied groups of organisms, we already have the data needed to demonstrate that birds are being affected by climate change. This is occurring in a variety of ways.
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