Evidence – Air Temperature• Air temperatures up 0.74 degrees C in the past 100 years

Copyright IPCC

Evidence – Precipitation• Droughts have increased in duration and frequency

Copyright IPCC

Drought Index Trend

Evidence – Sea Level Rise• Since 1993 rate of sea level rise has nearly doubled• Sea level Increases are variable

Copyright IPCC

Sea Level Rise High on North American Coasts

Evidence – Glaciers• Glaciers declining across the globe

Copyright IPCC

Glacial Mass

• Air temperatures will continue to rise• Snowfall will

decrease• The speed at

which glaciers and sea ice melts

will increase• The ocean

temperature will rise further• Precipitation

patterns will shift

The Future Threat

Photo courtesy of South Dakota Department of Tourism

What It Means in the Field• Rising sea levels• Extreme weather events• Change in vegetative types• Drought• Milder winters• Dry conditions• Warmer temperatures

Example from the Field

• Contraction in range of coldwater fish

From: Flebbe et al. 2006

Predicted Distribution of Wild Brook Trout

Current Distribution of Wild Brook Trout

Waterfowl

Factors Affecting Waterfowl Habitat• Precipitation changes

• Drought

• Sea-level rise

Consequences for the Future • Prairie Pothole region: 90% wetlands lost

• Upper Great Lakes: 39% waterfowl lost

• LA’s Chenier Plain: 99% waterfowl lost

• Atlantic and Pacific Coastal Zones: major breeding and migration habitats lost

• Western Boreal Forest: 12-15M waterfowl threatened

What It Means in the Field

• Fewer birds, shorter seasons

• Change in migration patterns

• More conservation efforts by hunters and governments

Example from the Field

Vanishing

Prairie

Potholes

Freshwater Fish

Factors Affecting Freshwater Fish Habitat• Rise in water temperature

• Flooding

• Drought

• Sea level rise

Photo courtesy of South Dakota Department of Tourism

Consequences for the Future

• 42% of trout and salmon habitat lost

• Pacific Northwest salmon populations slashed up to 40%

• In localized areas bull trout reduced up to 90%

• Lower Appalachians up to 97% reductions

• Expansion of noxious weeds

What It Means on the Water• Fishing spots will change

• Favorite fish will relocate

• Public water rights will conflict with private interests

• Limits and management practices will change

Example from the Field• Trout at Risk

Big Game

Factors Affecting Big Game Habitat•Precipitation: rain, snow and runoff.

•Temperature: global rise and regional adjustments

Consequences for the Future • Increased parasite

infestation

• Reduced food quality and habitat

• Habitat fragmentation

Upland Birds

Photo courtesy of South Dakota Department of Tourism

Factors Affecting Upland Bird Habitat• Increased air temperature

• Rain

• Snowfall

• Invasive species

Consequences for the Future• Major reductions numbers

• An influx of invasive species

• Shrinking numbers of bobwhite quail

Photo courtesy of South Dakota Department of Tourism

What It Means in the Field• Fewer birds in the bag

• Birds concentrated in reduced cover

• Habitat dependent on human intervention

• Partnerships between hunters and public agencies

Example from the Field

• Reduced pheasant egg hatchability during first

48 hrs. of incubation(Yeatter 1950)

Strategies for Hope

83% Agree Issue is Serious

Americans Are Growing More ConcernedAbout Global Warming

(How serious a problem would you say is global warming?)

9 12

30

40

713

29

45

6 8

27

56

0

20

40

60

80

100

Not at all serious Not very serious Somewhat serious Very serious

Pe

rce

nt

2004 2005 2007

Source: Yale Environmental Poll, Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy

71% Expect Decrease in GameHow concerned are you that the wildlife or fish populations in

the areas where you typically hunt or fish will decrease significantly or disappear in the next 10 years?

2

27

27

44

0 20 40 60 80 100

Veryconcerned

Somewhatconcerned

Not at allconcerned

Don't know

Percent

National sportsmen (n=1031)

71% are concerned

What’s Needed

• Mandatory cap

• Funding for research and projects

• An aggressive implementation plan

Photo courtesy of South Dakota Department of Tourism

Take Responsibility• Support existing conservation programs

• Promote new public policy initiatives

• Insist that global warming be considered

• Demand action