Hamed Kioumarsi is an agricultural scientist with extensive academic and editorial experience. He has served collaboratively as one of the Editors-in-Chief at Pandawa Publishing House and has contributed as an editorial board member and associate editor for leading publications under Springer Nature. His scholarly portfolio includes numerous books and peer-reviewed reference articles. In addition, he has acted as an advisor to several reputable international organizations. His current research primarily focuses on sustainable development and climate change.

Citation: Kioumarsi, H. (2026). Impacts of Climate Change on Global Wildlife. Research Communities by Springer Nature.  https://go.nature.com/4arm5lD 

Introduction

Climate change has been identified as one of the most serious issues in the 21st century. It can be defined as the long-term changes in the Earth’s temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events. Climate change has been a natural phenomenon in the Earth’s history, but the current pace of change is unprecedented in the context of modern ecological systems. Climate change influences wildlife through multiple pathways. Direct effects include rising average temperatures, altered seasonal cycles, and increased frequency of extreme events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires. Indirect effects emerge through changes in habitat structure, food availability, species interactions, and ecosystem processes. It should be mentioned that climate change extends beyond individual species to influence community composition, ecosystem stability, and global biodiversity patterns. Understanding these complex dynamics is therefore essential for developing effective conservation and management strategies in an era of rapid environmental change.

Physiological Stress and Habitat Loss

Climate change can push species beyond their physiological tolerance limits, reducing their survival and reproductive success. Temperature influences metabolism, reproduction, and development in many organisms, making them highly sensitive to climatic shifts.

Changes in climate patterns also contribute to habitat degradation. Polar regions are particularly vulnerable. The melting of sea ice reduces critical habitat for polar bears and seals, often forcing them to swim longer distances in search of food or resting areas, which increases mortality risk. Similarly, rising ocean temperatures cause coral bleaching, leading to the loss of coral reef ecosystems that support a wide range of marine species.

Species Interactions

Climate change also affects interactions among species. As global temperatures rise, many species shift their geographic ranges toward the poles or to higher elevations. These movements can create new competitive relationships between species that previously did not interact.

In addition, disease vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks are expanding into regions that were once too cold for their survival. This expansion increases the risk of disease transmission to wildlife and, in some cases, to humans.

Conservation Implications

Given the widespread impacts of climate change, traditional conservation strategies must be reconsidered. Many protected areas were established under the assumption of stable environmental conditions. However, as species shift their geographic ranges, the protected areas may no longer provide adequate protection. Dynamic conservation approaches are therefore necessary.

Conclusion

Climate change affects wildlife through multiple interconnected mechanisms, including physiological stress, habitat degradation, altered species interactions, and disrupted ecological processes. While some species demonstrate adaptive capacity, the current rate of climate change is unprecedented. To mitigate biodiversity loss, it is essential to combine scientific research with proactive and flexible conservation strategies suited to a rapidly changing environment.

References

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Kioumarsi, H., Naseri Harsini, R., Gizem Özbey, B., Rafiei, B., Alidoust Pahmedani, M., Shariman Yahaya, Z., & Rosen, M. A. (2026). Wildlife, biodiversity, and the United Nations sustainable development goals: Synergizing conservation and development for a sustainable future. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 10(2), em0367. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17816

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Rosen, M. A., Kioumarsi, H., & Gholipour Fereidouni, H. (2025). Climate action and net-zero emissions. European Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 9(4), em0334. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/16864