In recent decades, there has been an increased level of concern about the upward trend of average global temperature caused by climate change. Global surface temperature in 1999 increased at a higher rate than any other recordings of the previous years, going from changes of a couple hundredths to the more previous change of 0.2˚C (Hansen et al, 1999). The rising of average global temperatures is a worldwide problem, and this temperature change seems to be an ongoing upward tendency. Global surface temperature has increased about 0.2˚C every decade during the past 30 years (Hansen et al., 2006). Climate change is occurring globally, so it is important to study the effects on organisms and how they respond to the drastic changes in climate.
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National wildlife refuges, lakes, rivers and other private lands serve as important stop over sights for wintering waterfowl. These too are important in the survival of waterfowl during the winter seasons. Ducks and geese will use these areas during their migration south, as well as resting and refueling areas during their spring migration north. Agriculture has increased the fitness of many species of Anseriforms. Many farmers plant crops year round and waterfowl are able to forage on left over crops, as well as the new crops that are planted over the winter. New practices in agricultural in the temperate latitudes have provided wintering geese with abundant and nutritious food, resulting in significant increases in population and the expansion of breeding grounds (Burnham 2014). Some of these crops include; winter wheat, corn, and soybeans. These serve as great food sources for waterfowl, as they provide much more energy per unit than natural forage. This results in higher fitness across all waterfowl species. The effect of agriculture and climate change on waterfowl is unclear, but the combined effect seems to have move the range of migrating waterfowl towards the poles (Burnham 2014). This abundance of food affects waterfowl species differently. Most waterfowl species have had steady populations. Other species like Chen carulescens, commonly known as the lesser snow goose, have increased significantly.
Loss of suitable habitat for nesting is causing waterfowl to migrate toward the poles. This is a concern among ecologists and population biologists because more species will be migrating to more northern areas and affecting the habitat. The tundra is already being degraded because of over population of ducks and geese in response to these habitat changes. Increased survival rates during the winter and spring migrations will cause further degradations of northern Polar
National wildlife refuges, lakes, rivers and other private lands serve as important stop over sights for wintering waterfowl. These too are important in the survival of waterfowl during the winter seasons. Ducks and geese will use these areas during their migration south, as well as resting and refueling areas during their spring migration north. Agriculture has increased the fitness of many species of Anseriforms. Many farmers plant crops year round and waterfowl are able to forage on left over crops, as well as the new crops that are planted over the winter. New practices in agricultural in the temperate latitudes have provided wintering geese with abundant and nutritious food, resulting in significant increases in population and the expansion of breeding grounds (Burnham 2014). Some of these crops include; winter wheat, corn, and soybeans. These serve as great food sources for waterfowl, as they provide much more energy per unit than natural forage. This results in higher fitness across all waterfowl species. The effect of agriculture and climate change on waterfowl is unclear, but the combined effect seems to have move the range of migrating waterfowl towards the poles (Burnham 2014). This abundance of food affects waterfowl species differently. Most waterfowl species have had steady populations. Other species like Chen carulescens, commonly known as the lesser snow goose, have increased significantly.
Loss of suitable habitat for nesting is causing waterfowl to migrate toward the poles. This is a concern among ecologists and population biologists because more species will be migrating to more northern areas and affecting the habitat. The tundra is already being degraded because of over population of ducks and geese in response to these habitat changes. Increased survival rates during the winter and spring migrations will cause further degradations of northern Polar