Expert: Dana Krempels, Ph.D. - 9/1/2007

Question
Will global warming have an effect on the tundra biome?  Will it cause certain species to become endangered/extinct?  Will it wipe out the biome entirely?

Please email me back as soon as possible.

Thank you very much,
Adam
ArcheryMonkey75@aol.com

Answer
Dear Adam,

Of all the earth's biomes, the tundra and arctic/antarctic habitats are probably going to be the most severely affected by global climate change.  The species that live there year-round are evolved to withstand a relatively narrow range of temperatures and climatic conditions.  As these change, they will reduce in numbers, and possibly go extinct.

Animals at lower latitudes that require colder temperatures can move north as the earth warms up.  But once your in the arctic, there's no more north, and you're stuck.

Melting ice floes are already making the distances polar bears must swim without rest deadly for them, and more drowned polar bears are being found than ever before.  Some experts estimate that polar bears will be extinct by 2022, if not sooner.

There is no way to see into the future to know if the tundra will be completely destroyed or just move somewhat farther north, to what now exists as polar ice.  I hope we never find out, and are able to reverse the terrible damage our species has done before the systems are gone forever.

Hope this helps.

Dana