ulations & biodiversity of certain geographic regions (i.e. competition for resources, distribution, migration etc.).

Climate is expressed as the long-term average pattern of weather in a given area, local, regional or even global. Climate change on the global scale has become a major concern to many in recent history, with some main driving points being global warming, rising ocean levels, habitat destruction and increased extreme weathers (storms, hurricanes, etc.). As stated by Althor et al., “the current generation is the first to feel the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Despite their well-known harmful impacts to the world’s climate system, greenhouse gases (GHG) are deliberately emitted by countries to drive economic growth and enhance human wellbeing.” (Althor et al, 2016) Some major causes of climate/weather related issues, such as rising average temperatures, rising sea levels and increased precipitation patterns, can be linked with the emissions of greenhouse gases. The unfortunate consequences of these climate/weather related events include, species not being able to find food, having to flee from specific environments due to destruction of habitats, and in some cases, species becoming endangered or even facing extinction.

Effects on the arctic

As the Earth heats we experience many concerns with respect to biodiversity, one of them being the rise in ocean levels & melting of glaciers impacting the species living in the arctic. “Climate change is already having an impact on biodiversity and is projected to become a progressively more significant threat in the coming decades. Loss of arctic sea threatens biodiversity across an entire biome and beyond.” (Shah, 2014) Performance curves can be used to determine the ranges within which a species can survive, grow and reproduce respectively. Such is the case in the arctic environments, with the rise in temperatures and ocean levels disabling certain animals from feeding and reproducing effectively. For example, constantly melting and freezing ice conditions effect the living circumstances of both seals and polar bears as “normally, ringed seal pups are born under snow drifts [which] the polar bears can dig through with relative ease. But [recently], seals appeared to be pupping under the ice because of altered sea ice conditions.” (Allsopp et all, 2012). This situation allowed the seals to find new conditions to birth their children (favouring them), whereas the polar bears (at a disadvantage) now work harder to reach their prey. Figure 1.3 displays the conditions the polar bears are currently facing. In th