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ScienceGlobal issues

How does climate change affect biodiversity?

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René Wilbrandt
October 5, 2026

Polar bears disappear as sea ice melts, forests face drought, and bees are finding less food. Climate change is causing biodiversity to fall and disrupting ecosystems worldwide.

Climate change is threatening biodiversity around the world by altering habitats, seasonal cycles, and entire ecosystems. Rising temperatures are melting polar ice, drying out forests, and reducing food sources for countless species. Among the animals facing increasing pressure are polar bears, bees, and songbirds. One major challenge is that plants and animals respond to environmental change at different speeds, disrupting ecological relationships that have developed over thousands of years.

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