Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt seals. But, because of the Earth’s rising temperature, Arctic sea ice forms later in the year and disappears earlier, making it difficult for bears to access food (especially in the southern-most ranges). This means lower reproductive rates for females and lower survival rates for cubs. An increasing number of polar bears have been spotted foraging for food in areas inhabited by humans.

According to the National Audubon Society, more than half of North American birds are spending the winter further north than they did 40 years ago. The range of purple finches, for example, has shifted 400 miles northward.

Sea turtles reproduce by crawling onto beaches to lay their eggs, then swimming back to sea. Rising sea levels are eroding traditional turtle nesting areas on beaches, putting already-vulnerable eggs in an even more precarious position. Every species of sea turtle is currently listed as endangered or threatened.

Some species of lobster are actually getting bigger because of increased CO2 in the atmosphere and more acidic oceans. That might seem like good news for lobster lovers, but some of the animals that lobsters prey on, like clams, are getting smaller and weaker. This trend could reach a point where clam populations crash and lobsters are left with little to feed on.

Beachgoers along the Mediterranean coast have been suffering more jellyfish stings recently. Thank global warming: jellyfish typically stay out of the way of swimmers, preferring the warmer, saltier waters of the open seas. Rising water temperatures are erasing the natural barrier between the open sea and the shore, though, causing more jellyfish to venture near land.

Hundreds of Pacific seabirds, including tufted puffins, auklets, and common murres, have been washing ashore each year after starving to death. Scientists blame global warming, which leads to less plankton, and subsequently, fewer small fish for the birds to eat.

Two-thirds of the 110 known species of harlequin frogs in Central and South America have vanished since the 1980s because of deadly fungus outbreaks. As one scientist said, “Disease is the bullet killing frogs, but climate change is pulling the trigger.”

Scientists predict that some already-arid parts of Africa will become even dryer and warmer. In the past, animals threatened by dry weather simply migrated to new watering holes. But now the watering holes are smaller and fewer, and human development has encroached on migration paths. The problem has led to an alarming number of human-elephant conflicts, which rarely end well.

During the past few decades, droughts have become more common in Madagascar. The effects are felt even in the rainforests. During dry seasons, female lemurs often cannot produce enough milk to nourish their babies, leading to high infant mortality. Also, as food for humans becomes scarce, people hunt lemurs and other animals for sustenance. More than half of lemur species are listed as endangered or critically endangered.

The gender of some lizards is influenced by the temperature at which the eggs incubate. In Australia, warmer temperatures are causing baby bearded dragon lizards to change from males to females while still in their eggs, making it harder for the lizards to find mates.

As CO2 levels increase, the quality of koala’s favorite food – eucalyptus leaves – diminishes. This could lead to malnutrition issues for the species.

Penguins are remarkably adaptable animals, having survived more than 3 million years of natural weather changes. However, scientists worry that human-induced climate change might come too fast for the flightless birds. There has already been a precipitous decline in Adelie and emperor penguin populations during the past few decades. Both species rely on sea ice to find food. Conversely, gentoo penguins, which hunt for fish in open water, are being spotted further south than ever before.