Over a 36 year period, the study found, birds have been arriving earlier and earlier each year. They now arrive at the site 21 days earlier than they did in 1960. The timing of migrations is critical to the survival of numerous bird species. Beginning their journey to early or late may mean that birds miss the food sources vital to their survival. Threatened aquatic species like manatees could also suffer heavily.
Manatees depend on grass beds in shallow coastal zones for food and habitat.
Unfortunately, as sea levels rise, these types of shallow aquatic habitat will disappear, as will coastal marshes and wetlands world-wide. Key wildlife habitats like the Florida Everglades and Chesapeake Bay could be flooded out of existence. Warmer water temperatures may also spur the growth of deadly red tides, increasing the danger not only to manatees and other aquatic mammals, but humans as well. As the Earth continues to warm over the next 100 years, the temperatures of streams, rivers, lakes, and even oceans will rise as well. For many fish species, this could spell disaster.