Science Daily reports on a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey and University of Montana that shows the impact of a decreasing snowpack in the Arizona Mountains on plants and animals. Here are some of their findings that show an ecological cascade of events:
- Climate chnage leads to a decreased snowpack
- Decreased snowpack leads to winter access to high elevation trees
- Elk browse trees at higher elevations
- Over browsing leads to decline in deciduous trees
- Decline in deciduous trees leads to decreased habitat for birds
- Decreased habitat and bird population lead to increased predation on remaining bird nests
And maybe the top of the list could be human behaviors causing climate change?
Read more:
Science Daily Dramatic links found between climate change, elk, plants, and birds.
Nature Climate Change Climate impacts on bird and plant communities from altered animal–plant interactions
Related articles
- Green Blog: Songbirds as a Casualty of Warming (green.blogs.nytimes.com)
Natural History Wanderings 
[…] How Climate Change Effects Elk, Plants and Birds (naturalhistorywanderings.com) 0.000000 0.000000 To Share Click on:AddthisLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. […]
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By: Human Noise Effects Plants As Well As Animals « Natural History Wanderings on June 21, 2012
at 6:07 AM
[…] How Climate Change Effects Elk, Plants and Birds (naturalhistorywanderings.com) […]
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By: Climate Adaptation Problems For European Birds and Butterflies « Natural History Wanderings on January 19, 2012
at 7:02 AM
Human-caused climate change?! Next thing you’ll try to tell me that the Earth is round. Get a grip. 😉
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By: John W. on January 14, 2012
at 6:50 PM