SpecieS and climate change: - IUCN

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Salmon and Climate Change Coupled with an increase in freshwater inputs, is an increase in the sedimentation of river and stream beds. Such sedimentation is likely to reduce the amount of gravel substrate available for spawning, and to smother both eggs and juveniles. Marine habitats: Predicting the specific effects of climate change on salmon in their marine environment is extremely difficult. This is due to our limited knowledge of the marine habits of salmon, combined with uncertainties about how marine habitats will be affected by climate change. It has been suggested that many of the food webs of which salmon are a part will be disrupted by climate change. For example, the timing of the planktonic ‘blooms’ required by the young is governed by climatic factors. Changes in the timing of these blooms could cause a scarcity of food at a critical stage of the salmon’s life cycle. Warmer ocean temperatures have been shown, in certain areas, to reduce the abundance of other smaller fish into these newly warmed areas. These two factors, when coupled together, could cause a significant rise in predation pressure on salmon. Can salmon adapt to climate change? Not all salmon populations will be affected by climate change in the same way, and some populations at higher latitudes may actually benefit from warmer temperatures through increased production. It is possible that a warmer climate could make new spawning habitats available, and this has been observed in parts of Alaska. Such changes are likely to lead to unexpected consequences and shifts in ecosystems and fisheries, and humans will need to be prepared to adapt to these new conditions. It is important to note that a multitude of other threats to salmon currently exist. These include: • • • • • Overexploitation by the fishing industry. Habitat destruction and degradation (particularly through activities such as mining, forestry, agriculture and/or urbanisation). Pollution and sedimentation of river waters Obstruction of migratory routes, (especially by dams and hydropower stations). Interbreeding and ecological interactions with artificially propagated salmon (originating from either farms or hatcheries). This suite of threats will all serve to jeopardise salmon’s chances of adapting to the new threats arising from climate change. For more information please visit: www.iucnredlist.org Contact Pete Rand Chairperson: IUCN SSC Salmonid Specialist Group prand@wildsalmoncenter.org +1 971-255-5546 “Continued research on how salmon will cope with climate change is important and should be emphasised. But we also need to support efforts to control greenhouse gases, do everything we can to help wild salmon adapt to a new, changing environment, and work on adapting to a new way of doing business through proactive, precautionary management and actively promoting wild salmon conservation.” - Pete Rand, IUCN SSC Salmonid Specialist Group Salmon geographical range – © IUCN Red List © 2009 IUCN
KoalaS and Climate Change Hungry for CO 2 cuts © Daniele Sartori Summary • Koalas are iconic animals native to Australia. They are true habitat and food specialists, only ever inhabiting forests and woodlands where Eucalyptus trees are present. • Increasing atmospheric CO2 levels will reduce the nutritional quality of Eucalyptus leaves, causing nutrient shortages in the species that forage on them. As a result, Koalas may no longer be able to meet their nutritional demands, resulting in malnutrition and starvation. the iUCn Red list of threatened Species • Increasing frequency and intensity of droughts can force Koalas to descend from trees in search of water or new habitats. This makes them particularly vulnerable to wild and domestic predators, as well as to road traffic, often resulting in death. • Koala populations are reported to be declining probably due to malnutrition, the sexually-transmitted disease chlamydia, and habitat destruction. • Koalas have very limited capability to adapt to rapid, human-induced climate change, making them very vulnerable to its negative impacts.
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SpecieS and climate change: - IUCN

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