Hobbies And Interests
Yellow-Bellied Marmot
The yellow-bellied marmot of Colorado's Rocky Mountains has grown in size and population since 1980. A 2010 report by the science journal "Nature" states that rodents that hibernate for seven to eight months each year take advantage of the longer summer-like weather to eat and mate. The marmots bulked up from an average 6.8 pounds to 7.5 pounds. Since 2001, one population of yellow-bellied marmots that researchers studied added 14 members annually, the journal reports. For 25 years prior to 2001, the group's population increased by less than one each year.
Alpine Chipmunk
The alpine chipmunk of Yosemite National Park and California's Sierra Nevada range has moved to higher elevations as average temperatures increase. The small rodent was once common around high-country areas, but alpine chipmunks have lost half their geographic range and are restricted to areas with elevations around 9,800 feet and higher, according to Jim Patton, a retired University of California, Berkeley zoology professor. He studied the rodent in a 2003 project funded by the university's Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and the National Park Service.
Polar Bears
Polar bears, which rely on sea ice in the Arctic Sea to use as platforms, are losing territory as ice melts and swimming conditions worsen. Sea ice platforms are moving farther apart, making it difficult for polar bears to travel and hunt. The scarcity of food has resulted in a declining population. The U.S. Geological Survey says that the world's polar bear population could decrease by two-thirds by the year 2050.
Waterfowl and Shorebirds
Waterfowl like ducks and geese are affected by climate change as rising sea levels and temperature fluctuations affect the migration flyways. Wetlands used as winter and summer homes could dry up as temperatures rise, warns the National Wildlife Federation. Certain species of birds are already affected. Millions of shorebirds descend upon Delaware Bay each spring to feed on the eggs of horseshoe crabs, but drops in the crab population have resulted in declines in bird numbers. Some species like sanderlings, red knots and ruddy turnstones have dropped by 50 percent.