Climate change is causing warmer average temperatures and declining snow in the mountains. As a result, Pacific Northwest landscapes and habitats are changing and affecting the plants, animals and humans who rely on them.
Wetlands, ponds, rivers and streams throughout the region will likely have less water in summer, some even drying up, due in part to increasing drought.
Warming and shrinking rivers and streams threaten Chinook salmon, which require cold water as they make their migratory journey up freshwater rivers and streams, where they spawn.
Rising seas are projected to displace coastal habitats, while ocean acidification threatens marine species and ecosystems.
As ecosystems undergo these and other changes, many animal and plant species will shift their ranges to track changes in the location of their suitable habitats.
Whether their habitats are well-connected (rather than fragmented by roads, urban development, agriculture or other human land uses) will in part determine whether species can successfully find new, hospitable habitats as the climate changes.
The timing of critical biological events will shift, causing ripple effects in animal and plant communities.
For example, mild temperatures will generally lead to insects emerging earlier in the season. This may result in migratory birds arriving from tropical wintering grounds too late to take advantage of peak resources.
Climate change stands to irrevocably alter Northwest ecosystems, with cascading impacts on regional fish and wildlife. Working to ensure Northwest habitats are well-connected – through efforts such as the transboundary Blueprint for a Resilient Cascadia – will help species respond to disturbances and migrate to more suitable areas as the climate warms.
Photo credits: [pond] Hickory Grove Park, Iowa, Carl Wycoff, Flickr, CC by 2.0; [prairie] Zumwalt Prairie, Bonnie Moreland, CC; [coast]; God's Thumb Creek, Oregon, Karsten Winegeart, Unsplash; [snowy mountain] University of Washington; [grass] UW; [flowers] UW; [bird] USFWS; UW