Question

there has been concern that diseases may reach new locations as a result of climate change. for example, there has been speculation that new rabies vector species may reach the united states in future years. what is an example from the chapter of a species that has specifically become a greater concern in the united states due to climate change resulting in warmer average temperatures, as opposed to other reasons for range expansions?

Answer 1

The emerald ash borer has become a greater concern in the United States due to climate change resulting in warmer average temperatures, enabling it to overwinter and extend its destructive season.

Step-by-step explanation:

An example of a species that has become a greater concern in the United States due to climate change and warmer temperatures is the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). The emerald ash borer is an insect that has been causing significant damage to American ash trees. The warming climate has allowed it to survive winters in greater numbers and has extended its active season, thereby increasing the threat to ash trees.

This impact on ash trees is also of concern because these trees are a source of wood for baseball bats, and their decline could affect the economy and cultural practices associated with the sport. The effects of climate change extend beyond increasing temperatures, also altering rainfall patterns, habitat distributions, and introducing new competitive interactions among species. This may lead to further unexpected ecological consequences, such as the documented cases where polar bears and grizzly bears, whose ranges previously didn't overlap, have begun to mate, creating hybrid species.