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One interesting aspect of climate change is the allowance of certain plant species to colonize new niches.

For example, kudzu vine, a pest species in the American south, is spreading northwards. It has even managed to establish itself in at least one part of Canada.

And of course, the tree line is growing northwards into the tundra.

So I imagine that in the next few years we will see an explosion of plant growth, due to warmer temperatures and higher C02 levels.

Its also possible that latent genes and mutation will demonstrate larger varieties of common plants.

So I guess invasive species are my current interest.

Dude, i am leaving for a cold region if it gets tropical here. I don't want to bother with insect pests. Currently doing a paper on our relations with insects, and well. Just go and wiki myasis, you do not want to see it happen to you.

IF global warming is real (if), then we would indeed see climate changes. And indeed plants like the kudzu vine and the camphor laurel will continue to spread. But what about animal species? Species of animal that were once confined to colder regions will spread more. As it is, I have heard that the polar bear is moving farther and farther south.

That is an interesting question. A good portion of the time in winter, polar bears are trying to cool down. In winter.

There has been some speculation that they could undergo morphological changes to adapt. For instance, in summer they are much thinner. Possibly something like pygmyism could result.

Well I am almost 26 years old and I can even tell you that the winters now (at least here in central fl) don't seem as cold as they were when I was a cold. I don't know if that's just because I am bigger now but I doubt it as I'm still very small and the temperature is much higher in the winter. I'm not sure if global warming is real or if it's just a climatic cycle, but it does seem warmer out now than it was just 15 or 20 years ago.

I expect we'll also see some desertification in other areas. In the region where I live and was raised, the average rainfall has dropped. Water tables are decreasing in parts of the US, and I would imagine elsewhere as well. It could be the landscape will change considerably, worldwide, in the next few decades.

But change is what life on Earth is all about. Scientists say that the human species evolved in an unusually stable period of Earth's history. We can't expect it to remain so forever.

Warmer climate usually leads to more biodiversity, but it doesn't have to be confined to plants. I don't think it has to be pest either. As climate change, some species will lose competitiveness to others. Ultimately evolution is about adaptation.

Although I lived in Texas until I was 17, I have lived in Minnesota since 2003. The winters of course seemed much colder comparatively, but it seems like the last two years, 2008 and 2009, seem to be colder than before. This year, summer practically didn't happen. Until today, it has been unbearable to go outside. Normally I like the cold, as it decreases the amount that insects multiply, but this is extreme. IDK, to me, it seems to be getting colder here in Minnesota, if for no other location.

must resist temptation...

must resist...

must... www.wiki...


damn you!


EDIT: Myiasis

Is a problem here in Australia with sheep, mulesing is practised as a result, although being phased out. I would *HATE* to get this :/

The temperature here in Helsinki right now (December 18 2009 6.30am) is - 15.5 C (4.3F) and I am not enthusiastic. No polar bears visible at the moment.

In it's own environment, each species is held in check by natural predators; if you move the species into an area with no natural predators, it will multiply without check (food or nutrients being the Malthusian brakes on that curve...
Yeah, we have Kudzu here in NC, it's ubiquitous, and will cover anything in it's path. Originally imported to control erosion, it went a bit overboard...

There was a society in the US in the 19th Century who had as their single purpose of introducing every animal or bird mentioned in Shakespeare (where the bluebird came in, etc)

I have heard that lots of polar bears are drowning because the distance between ice floes is farther than they can swim.

It's a lie.

Polar bears are some of the strongest swimmers in nature. They can swim for well over 100 miles without drowning. It's necessary to hunt their prey.

All the "polar bears are drowning" garbage is based on assumption. They take a photo of a bear surrounded by water and PRESUME it drowned because there was no land nearby. Just because we can't swim that far doesn't mean the bear can't.

See http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 767459.ece