The Effects of Climate Change on Polar Ecosystems and Their Biodiversity
As the world continues to warm, the delicate polar ecosystems are facing a number of challenges that threaten their biodiversity. Scientists are warning of rapid decline in species that live in the Arctic and Antarctic regions due to melting ice, rising sea levels, and changes in the food web.
Recent studies have found that the rate of species extinction in the polar regions is alarming, with species such as polar bears, walruses, and seabirds suffering population losses of up to 40%. These species are particularly vulnerable to climate change because they rely on the sea ice for their survival. As the ice melts, their habitat and the food they depend on is disappearing. The decline in biodiversity also has ripple effects on other species, as the changes in the food web can disrupt the entire ecosystem.
source: Phys.org