Published: Sunday, April 25, 2010
CLIMATE CHANGE
Entire food chain, systems at stake
All over the planet, plants and animals, humans, and even our own Earth are being affected by global warming. The arctic wildlife is part of this. You might think that since these animals are living far away that they don’t affect us and that they aren’t important. But that’s not true. If animals in the arctic die out, they will bring down many ecosystems with them.
Right whales have been on the endangered species list since the early 1970s. There are only 300-400 right whales left in the entire world. Changes in the sea water temperature, the wind, and the currents affect the concentration of the right whales’ main sources of food, zooplankton. When there isn’t enough food, they will die. Scientists say that the survival of these whales may be linked to the survival of the entire world.
In the last 30 years 400,000 square miles of this ice has melted. This is roughly the size of Texas. Climate change is so bad that by the year 2050, 15-37 percent of all plant and animal species in the world will be completely wiped out. If we don’t do something to change this soon, the entire food chain will fall apart.
You might think that climate change won’t do any major damage to the planet, or at least not in your lifetime and that you don’t have to do anything to help. But if you do, then you’re wrong.
It may not be completely evident yet, but it’s there. Without your help, all arctic wildlife species will be extinct. We need to help these animals. We need to stop global warming from destroying their habitat. We need to act now.
Chris Cole
Matt Ness
Marysville Middle School
Right whales have been on the endangered species list since the early 1970s. There are only 300-400 right whales left in the entire world. Changes in the sea water temperature, the wind, and the currents affect the concentration of the right whales’ main sources of food, zooplankton. When there isn’t enough food, they will die. Scientists say that the survival of these whales may be linked to the survival of the entire world.
In the last 30 years 400,000 square miles of this ice has melted. This is roughly the size of Texas. Climate change is so bad that by the year 2050, 15-37 percent of all plant and animal species in the world will be completely wiped out. If we don’t do something to change this soon, the entire food chain will fall apart.
You might think that climate change won’t do any major damage to the planet, or at least not in your lifetime and that you don’t have to do anything to help. But if you do, then you’re wrong.
It may not be completely evident yet, but it’s there. Without your help, all arctic wildlife species will be extinct. We need to help these animals. We need to stop global warming from destroying their habitat. We need to act now.
Chris Cole
Matt Ness
Marysville Middle School
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