What impact does climate change have on biodiversity?

Study for the Pennsylvania Junior Envirothon Test. Explore environment-related topics through interactive quizzes, detailed explanations, and hints. Get ready for your exam!

Climate change has a profound impact on biodiversity, primarily leading to habitat loss and increased extinction rates. As global temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, many ecosystems face significant disruptions. This can result in habitat destruction, as species struggle to adapt to new conditions, leading to a decline in suitable environments for many plants and animals.

Increased greenhouse gas emissions can cause extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and hurricanes, further stressing different ecosystems. These conditions can make it difficult for various species to survive, reproduce, and thrive, particularly those with limited ranges or specialized habitat needs. As a result, some species may face extinction, which diminishes overall biodiversity and disrupts ecological balance.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the consequences of climate change on biodiversity. While it’s true that certain areas may see a temporary increase in agricultural yield due to warmer temperatures, this does not represent a global trend and is often offset by the negative impacts on natural ecosystems. Similarly, wildlife habitats may not necessarily expand; instead, many are shrinking due to changing climate conditions and human activities. Lastly, climate change does not lead to stabilized weather patterns; in fact, it generally causes increased variability and unpredictability in weather. Thus, the choice highlighting habitat loss and increased extinction rates

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