The report, "Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some Key Questions," explicitly asks if the occurrence of global climate change is actually an issue worth addressing. The consensus is that "most of the observed warming of the last 50 years is likely to have been due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations accurately reflects the current thinking of the scientific community on the issue" (Oreskes, 2004, p 1686). This is basically stating, that yes, climate change is a concern and it is certainly caused by anthropogenic factors. So if climate change is occurring, one may ask how different species will be affected? Although one could argue that every species will be affected, in this paper, the focus will be on future of the arctic fox species in regards to global climate change. As one of the top predators located in the arctic, depending on the type of food present, these foxes are both hunters and scavengers, mainly consuming lemmings and moles. While this animal is native to the arctic region, it can also be found in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Alaska. The arctic fox is deemed an excellent indicator species for the Tundra ecosystem. .
Global climate change will have a great affect on many species, including the arctic Fox. "Significant changes in physical and biological systems are occurring on all continents and in most oceans, with a concentration of available data in Europe and North America. Most of these changes are in the direction expected with warming temperature" (Rosenzweig et al., 2008, p 353). An increase in temperature will change the habitat the fox is living in. As the tundra warms, plants will be better able to survive which could mean more forest could spread into the tundra. Arctic foxes do not thrive in forests. They would have to keep moving north to maintain their habitat. As more foxes crowd into smaller territories, competition for food will increase, causing populations to diminish.
