Groundbreaking Research Shows Global Warming Broadly Affecting U.S. Wildlife

2/6/2002

From: Patty Glick of the National Wildlife Federation, 202-797-6898

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Global warming resulting from human activities will likely mean growing threats to our nation's wildlife, more trouble with invasive species, and significant environmental changes that jeopardize our quality of life in the near future, according to landmark research released by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). This new science is particularly timely as the Bush administration prepares to release a global warming plan that may allow an increase in the nation's greenhouse gas emissions.

"Global warming has come down to Earth for the wildlife right in our backyards," said Mark Van Putten, president of the National Wildlife Federation. "The effects are already happening and will likely worsen unless we get serious about reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases to help slow global warming."

These alarming findings are contained in a new book, "Wildlife Responses to Climate Change," featuring eight case studies by top researchers that demonstrate how global warming and associated climate change is affecting North American wildlife. Under the guidance of renowned climate experts Stephen H. Schneider, Ph.D. of Stanford University and Terry L. Root, Ph.D. of the University of Michigan, the researchers examined how climate change is affecting a variety of species' behavior and habitat range across the country. NWF sponsored this peer-reviewed research to help understand how human activities, especially those contributing to global warming, are altering our world.

"This research confirms our suspicions about the effect global warming is already having on our environment, and gives us a glimpse of what is likely to occur in the future," continued Van Putten. Major findings in the book include:

-- Invasive species such as Tamarix shrubs in the Southwest may expand their range, reducing water and food available to native wildlife and humans. Red imported fire ants in the Southeast may also expand their range, dominating native ant species and creating an enhanced health risk to humans.

-- Butterfly species such as the sachem skipper butterfly in the Pacific Northwest and the Bay checkerspot butterfly in California are already responding to climatic and weather changes, signaling potential responses in other species that share their ecosystem.

-- Changes in climate may alter essential habitat for grizzly bears, red squirrels, and other wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem region of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho by contributing to a reduction in whitebark pine trees, an important food source for the animals.

-- Global climate change may significantly alter important intertidal habitats for Pacific Northwest marine invertebrates, and will likely shift the balance of predators and prey throughout the ecosystem. For example, the study shows that if climate change contributes to a reduction in cold-water upwelling in the ocean, the increase in surface water temperature could cause ochre sea stars (a keystone predator) to eat more mussels, their favored food. As a result, populations of mussels will likely decline, with a chain reaction throughout the food web.

These findings underscore the immediate need to reduce -- not just slow -- emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases generated from the use of fossil fuels such as coal and oil in power plants and cars. Without such emissions reductions, global warming could occur more quickly over the next century and with an even greater toll on people and wildlife.

"While global warming is a serious threat, it is not an impossible challenge," concluded Van Putten. "What this book tells us is that we need to act quickly on the solutions within our reach."

Climate experts agree that we can use national, state and local tools to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. By limiting emissions of carbon dioxide from the nation's electric power plants, enacting higher Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for SUVs and other light trucks, and providing incentives for greater investments in energy efficient and renewable energy technologies, we can protect people and wildlife. Moreover, resource managers and other wildlife professionals must begin to take climate change into consideration when they work to conserve species and habitat.

The nation's largest member-supported conservation education and advocacy group, the National Wildlife Federation unites people from all walks of life to protect nature, wildlife and the world we all share.

A complete media kit is available by visiting NWF on the web at http://www.nwf.org.