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How does the early spring thaw affect the Arctic food chain?
When the sea ice begins to melt every Spring this is the signal for life to explode into action. As the ice melts away the sunlight hits the water giving energy to microscopic algae to grow. This algae becomes food for the tiny armies of zooplankton which become food for fish, birds and whales.
How has global warming affect ice?
Polar ice caps are melting as global warming causes climate change. We lose Arctic sea ice at a rate of almost 13% per decade, and over the past 30 years, the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic has declined by a stunning 95%. Sea ice loss has far-reaching effects around the world.
How does global warming affect Arctic animals?
More woody plants, more precipitation, and warmer temperatures compromise the survival of grazing animals such as reindeer and muskoxen. Warmer winter temperatures have also increased the layers of ice in snow, making food more difficult to dig up in winter. Fish are moving as seas warm.
Why are polar bears going extinct?
Polar bears spend over 50% of their time hunting for food. But because of ongoing and potential loss of their sea ice habitat resulting from climate change–the primary threat to polar bears Arctic-wide–polar bears were listed as a threatened species in the US under the Endangered Species Act in May 2008.
What is the food chain of the Arctic?
In the Arctic, there are several food chains that criss-cross to make a food web, starting with the sun, then producers like phytoplankton in the sea and grasses and lichens on land. Some of the consumers in the food webs are krill, fish, birds, reindeer, and seals.
What causes the ice to melt?
Ice melts when heat energy causes the molecules to move faster, breaking the hydrogen bonds between molecules to form liquid water. In the melting process, the water molecules actually absorb energy.
How does global warming affect Arctic fish?
Scientists believe that climate change could affect the Arctic by altering the speed and pattern of ocean currents that could in turn affect fish stocks. Changes in the speed and direction of ocean currents would affect access to nutrients and the distribution of larvae and growing organisms.
How is global warming affecting Arctic foxes?
The Arctic fox faces a multitude of threats from climate change: its sea ice and tundra habitat are shrinking, its lemming prey are becoming less abundant in some areas, and it faces increased competition and displacement by the red fox which is moving northward as temperatures warm. LOSS OF SEA ICE AND TUNDRA HABITAT.