Some species adapt much more rapidly to new conditions than others. This means that certain species favoured by a shift in climate might come to dominate ecosystems. These habitat changes are also related to land management practices. For example, both commercial forestry practices and climate change may favour the increase of forest insect pests. One of the main aspects of climate change that is predicted for the Yukon is an increase in snow.
Snow affects the movements and feeding of ungulates in the winter.
Long-term changes in snow are predicted to alter distributions and abundance of ungulates. Changes in the timing of spring are also important, as this affects the availability of food during the calving season. This may be offset to some extent by increases in winter snowpack. The changes in vegetation communities in forests, alpine and tundra will all be influenced by local conditions and species mixes. Studies suggest that shrubs will dominate at the expense of smaller, herbaceous plants in alpine and tundra communities.