Climate Change Ecology

As the climate warms, the timing, scale, and
location of ecological events are changing, too.

Birds

Since 1966, North American birds seeking warmer, less variable
climates have shifted their wintering grounds an average of

46 miles northward
and 10 miles inland.

4-

Snowp

Leaf and
Bloom Dates

The timing of first leaves and blooms is
happening earlier in most states, but later in
the South and part of the Upper Midwest

4 out of 5 sites saw

a decrease in early spring
snowpack between 19551
and 2023.

GrowingSeason

In the contiguous United States, the growing season
for crops and other plants has gotten longer in

44 out of 48 states.

18% decrease of
snowpack across all
sites, on average during
this time period.

Decreasing snowpack impacts
agriculture, winter recreation,
and plants and wildlife.

Changes to snow conditions alter the timing and
volume of streamflows, which can disrupt the fish
and other organisms that depend on them.

Ragwee
Pollen Season

Ragweed season is 2 weeks longer

since 1995 for most spots in the central plains.

Wildfires

With records going back to 1983, the top 10 years with
largest area burned from wildfires have all happened

Marine Species

Since 1989, marine species off the coast of the
northeast U.S. are seeking cooler waters and
migrating an average of

52 miles northward
and 59 feet deeper.

-------