Global Warming Has Caused These Animals To Thrive

Global warming and climate change were once thought to be a hoax that many people viewed skeptically. However, there is real scientific evidence to back it as a seriously critical issue. Exhibited significantly in the increase in severe weather patterns and unusual weather events, this environmental change is, according to the United Nations, the biggest threat facing humanity.

But it isn't just man that is affected. Flora and fauna are also impacted by these changes as well. Entire ecosystems may become uninhabitable for many animals, causing them to migrate in search of food, water, and sustainable living environments. Many animals will die off, and yet, there are a few who have benefited from this disaster. Many are thriving, and doing better than ever.

To determine the animals thriving due to global warming, 24/7 Tempo searched out many environmental and zoological websites, including Sierra Club, the US Environmental Protection Agency, Ocean Conservancy, and more. Want to learn even more shocking animal facts? Check out this list of the 15 surprising cat abilities you've never heard of.

Most experts believe that one of the animals that will likely be thriving due to global warming is the long-tailed tit. These birds are mostly found in the UK and are considered the smallest birds in the area. A recent survey turned what most people thought about these birds was wrong.

It was found that the birds were more likely to survive during warmer and drier breeding seasons. Global warming may mean warmer springs and the tits will live longer as a result. Easier warmer seasons can also mean they'll have more energy when the weather grows colder.

As the weather gets warmer and warmer, the wild boar population is growing exponentially. There are several reasons. One is that warmer temperatures mean warmer winters that make it easier for older boars to thrive and newly born boars to survive in winter.

Also, as a positive side effect of global warming, increased sunlight increases carbon dioxide levels, which means that trees produce more food, especially chestnuts, and acorns, which boars eat for sustenance and energy. More energy also means increased reproduction. Overall, wild boars are doing quite well.

In a recent study, scientists who were trying to learn how animals would react to climate change relocated a population of anoles to a warmer place. The scientists watched as brown anoles were able to move faster and get to food quickly, hence proving their ability to survive in a new climate.

Scientists also believe that when the anoles reproduce, they'll pass on their adaptable genetic qualities to their offspring which means that the species likely has a long and promising future. Hundreds of years from now, it may only be the anoles that are left standing.

If there's one thing we know for sure about zebrafish, it's that they are adaptable to warm climates. While small, zebrafish have incredible muscle composition that makes them great swimmers, especially in hotter water temperatures. Their genes also give them an edge in harsher climates.

At some point, the water can get so warm that it can start to harm the fish, but scientists are unsure of what that dangerous temp may be. In the meantime, zebrafish have a great chance of surviving global warming.

Many times, the reason why global warming can be good for a certain species of animal is because it forces them to do things they wouldn't normally do, and it turns out for the best. In the case of trumpeter swans, the warmer temperatures are encouraging the birds to fly further north into places they wouldn't normally go.

As it turns out, the swans are finding thousands of new acres of land that they never before tried and it's working out well for their population. That's pretty good news considering that this type of swan almost went extinct in the 1800s.

Another bird that is thriving and will continue to do well as global warming gets worse is the mighty albatross. The reason is related to the wind, which is affected by global warming. The benefit to the albatross has been the changes in wind intensity over the ocean, which help the bird to fly faster and stay in the air longer, so the species has a better chance of finding food.

The more the birds can eat and thrive, the more they can breed, and thus there will be more albatross around as climate change escalates.

Many of the animals thriving due to global warming are marine species that are included in the cephalopod family. The number of cephalopods in the world has increased over the last 60 years as the Earth continues to get warmer. Part of their secret may be that cephalopods are extremely adaptable to new scenarios.

Their adaptability is so well known that they're often referred to as the "weeds of the sea." If global warming and climate change continue to increase, you'll likely see an increase in the number of cephalopods.

One of the themes of this list is that many of the animals are thriving because they found a new way to live which can help them to survive harsher and warmer climates. The sea lion is another example of this theory. Researchers have been watching California's sea lions and noticing that they're more flexible when it comes to finding food.

To overcome prey challenges connected to global warming, sea lions are venturing out further into the oceans to find food, and they're finding what they need. This flexibility could prove to be instrumental in the changing natural world.

Whether you like it or not, ratsnakes are thriving due to global warming. One reason is that like most other snakes, they are very adaptable when it comes to changing temperatures. The temperature changes could mean that there are more ratsnakes in the population.

Another reason for their success on a warmer planet is that to survive, ratsnakes will likely go out at night instead of during the day so it's not as warm. Hawks and other predators try to attack ratsnakes during the day, and when they're not around, it means that their numbers will stay up.

It's believed that starfish are also living well even during global warming. That's mostly because they thrive on increased carbon dioxide levels and elevated temperatures. They even grow faster in these specific conditions. Researchers put starfish in a tank with higher levels of carbon dioxide and many of them grew quite dramatically.

Another reason why starfish can last in global warming is because they have less armor than many other sea creatures, so they don't heat up as much, and so they can adapt to the changing temps.

The final entry of the animals thriving due to global warming is the cat population. As the global temperatures increase, so does the number of cats. Most cats breed during the warm weather in spring. Now that winters are getting a bit shorter, cats have more warm weather to do their business.

However, there is a downside. It's that the more the cat population explodes, the more stray and feral cats there are. With that said, cats are still interesting creatures, that's why a cat was one of the animals that were put on trial as late as 2004.