Our Government has developed a Multi-Agency Approach to studying effects of Climate Change on species!

The question is and always has been what can they really do.  While it is excellent that they are looking at the impacts of climate change on the Fish, Wildlife and Plants will they really be able to do much? See the five minute video that NOAA has developed to notify the public of the Multi-Agency Strategy.

http://www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov/

What Does this Mean for our Fish, Wildlife and Plants?

In my humble, quasi reality, jack of all trades, scientifically based personal opinion…

Fish will be interesting to monitor;  salt water fish can migrate and move as needed, freshwater fish may be more at jeopardy as warming water temperatures will limit the types of fish living in enclosed systems. Will Salmon runs stop occurring in Northern California, Oregon and Washington?  I don’t know. Needless to say the fishing industry will be heavily impacted as certain species lose their ability to survive in traditional habitats.

One study from the University of British Columbia  in the Science Daily, shares their concerns about climate change effects on fisheries…

One Good Thing they State is…

While fisheries in a few regions, such as the far north, may benefit from climate change, many other regions, particularly those in the tropics, can expect losses in revenues.

Read the whole article at the following link…

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111120134823.htm

Animals will need migration corridors.  Corridors should be free from human development if possible.  One of the greatest negative impacts will be highways.  Highways must be permeable to large animals crossing in order to ensure a healthy gene pool and the survival of species. Bridges, overpasses and underpasses will help make this happen.  Vegetated corridors must allow animals to travel from one safe habitat to another. These methodologies are currently being looked at by the Federal Highways Administration and each States Department of Transportation, Department of Fish and Game etc and have been being implemented for years.  These agencies have been fairly proactive. Check out the FHWA links to ecosystems and wildlife in the following link…

http://environment.fhwa.dot.gov/ecosystems/wildlife_links.asp

Plants, like freshwater fish, will be undoubtedly be extirapated from some of their ranges.  Extirpated means totally destroyed, locally extinct, gone, removed, no longer there!  A lot of climate scientists believe that Pinyon Pine trees in Central Arizona will disappear. See the attached link to the local Payson Roundup Newspaper concerning the loss of plant diversity in the Rim Country!

Pinyon pines facing dark future as climate shifts

These pines are forecast to move from the elevational ranges they currently thrive in.  Is this a new thing, not really.  Pinyon Pine and Ponderosa Pine tree ranges have moved up or down in elevation during many of the warming cycles that have occurred in the past.  Only this time they may stay gone for a while!

Adaptation will Occur, Some Species will Thrive!

As the great philosopher (Unknown) of our time says,  “It is what it is!”

What comes with change is that some species, like certain fish species in the far north, will do quite well.  As the climate changes,  species will adapt, some will change locations, and yet others will die off.

What do you want growing in your yard?

Orange trees might replace Pine Trees?

What kind of animals do you want in your City?

What Elephant?

GET READY FOR CHANGES!