“Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species in Connecticut.” CT.gov, 18 Dec. 2020, portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Endangered-Species/Endangered-Species.
This resource will clarify the Connecticut Endangered Species Act (passed in 1989) is and how it recognizes the importance of the state’s plant and animal populations and the importance to protect them. This resource also identifies the differences between endangered species, threatened species and species of special concern.
Furfaro, Hannah, and August 23. “The Saltmarsh Sparrow Is Creeping Dangerously Close to Extinction.” Audubon, 22 Sept. 2016, www.audubon.org/news/the-saltmarsh-sparrow-creeping-dangerously-close-extinction#:~:text=The%20Saltmarsh%20Sparrow%20Is%20Creeping%20Dangerously%20Close%20to%20Extinction&text=It's%20first%20light%2C%20and%20the,coast%20is%20silky%20and%20pale.&text=Chris%20Elphick%2C%20a%20conservation%20biologist,he%20stops%20in%20his%20tracks.
This resource will dive deeper in to explaining all about the saltmarsh sparrow and why it is so close to extinction. It will also explain a saltmarsh sparrow’s habitat and how the rising waters are wiping away their nests filled with eggs or with chicks that are unable to fly.
Governor's Council on Climate Change (Conn.). Building a Low Carbon Future for Connecticut: Recommendations from the . Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 2018, https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Malloy-Archive/Press-Room/20181218-Governors-Council-on-Climate-Change-Final-Report.pdf
This is a governor’s council report on climate change that discusses how carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas that represents the greatest warming potential due to its atmospheric abundance and long atmospheric lifetime. This report poses some solutions to decrease greenhouse gas emission.
Hancock, Elaina. “Rapid Change – A Tale of Two Species.” UConn Today, 29 Aug. 2018, today.uconn.edu/2018/08/rapid-change-tale-two-species/.
This resource explains how the environmental changes are effecting two types of species. The article focuses on the saltmarsh sparrow and the marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum. These two species are linked by the same variable, a rise in global temperature.
Means, Tiffany. “Why Is It Raining so Hard? Global Warming Is Delivering Heavier Downpours " Yale Climate Connections.” Yale Climate Connections, 25 May 2021, yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/04/global-warming-is-delivering-heavier-downpours/.
This report expresses how the United States is experience a rise in precipitation. It explains why the United States in particular is experiencing more rainfall and how the average temperature has increase 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit as a result of the release of heat trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
O'Donnell, James. 2019, pp. 1–14, Sea Level Rise in Connecticut, Final Report February 2019. https://circa.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1618/2019/10/Sea-Level-Rise-Connecticut-Final-Report-Feb-2019.pdf
This resource is a very detailed report about a plan of action for sea level rise in Connecticut. There are various charts with data that compare the increase in sea level starting in the late 1930s and making predictions through the year 2100.
Quincy, Susan, et al. 2020, pp. 1–25, Connecticut: Our Changing Climate. https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/education/kellogg/CT-Changing-Climate-Booklet.pdf
This climate report booklet has lots of information about effects of climate change in Connecticut provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. This is a great resource because it breaks down each piece of climate change, the greenhouse effect, sea level rise, wildlife at risk, extreme weather, and provides solutions to how Connection is responding to these challenges.
Rasmussen, Carol. “Glacial Rebound: The Not So Solid Earth.” Edited by Rob Garner, NASA, NASA, 25 Aug. 2015, https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/glacial-rebound-the-not-so-solid-earth
This informative resource discusses glacial rebound in a very detailed text that explains how satellites from NASA is tracking how sea level rise is occurring two to three times quicker than average. It also explains how glacial rebound is effecting the East Coast.
Runkle, J., K. Kunkel, S. Champion, D. Easterling, B. Stewart, R. Frankson, and W. Sweet, 2017: Connecticut State Climate Summary. NOAA Technical Report NESDIS 149-CT, 4 pp. https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/ct/
This report explains how temperatures in Connecticut have increased since the beginning of the 20th century. There are various charts that have been tracking temperatures and global sea level projected with prediction through the 21 century. It goes into detail about the increase in rainfall and the decrease in snowfall with rationale for those changes.
SeaLevelRise.org. “Sea Level Rise Causes.” Sea Level Rise, 1st Street Foundation, 2017, sealevelrise.org/causes/.
This resource explains the four main causes of sea level rise that include ice melt, thermal expansion, the slowing of the Gulf Stream and land sinkage, This article goes into a lot of detail about each cause with lots of examples.
SeaLevelRise.org. “Connecticut’s Sea Level is Rising.” Sea Level Rise, 1st Street Foundation, 2017, https://sealevelrise.org/states/connecticut/#:~:text=And%20It's%20Costing%20Over%20%242,than%20it%20was%20in%201964.&text=This%20increase%20is%20mostly%20due,and%20it's%20causing%20major%20issues.
This resource explains how it is costing over two billion dollars to provide solutions in fixing sea level rise in Connecticut. It provides information about the causes and complications of sea level rise in coastal communities and wetland habitats. It goes into detail about how the solutions are not simple, but important in order to preserve ecosystems and communities.
Shay, Jim. “CT Audubon: 6 Species at High Risk from Climate Change.” Connecticut Post, Connecticut Post, 5 Dec. 2015, www.ctpost.com/news/article/CT-Audubon-6-species-at-high-risk-from-climate-6669737.php.
This short reports names the top six species at high risk due to climate change. These species are the saltmarsh sparrow, the black-capped chickadee, moose, piping plover, roseate tern and Atlantic salmon. Each species is provided a detailed explanation as to how they are being individually effected differently from climate change.
“Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink.” Audubon Connecticut, 18 Oct. 2019, nm.audubon.org/news/survival-degrees389birdspeciesbrink#:~:text=Survival%20by%20Degrees%3A%20389%20Bird%20Species%20on%20the%20Brink%2C%20a,number%20one%20threat%20to%20birds.&text=The%20good%20news%20is%20that,at%20risk%20from%20climate%20change
This report detailed how 37% of Connecticut’s birds are vulnerable to climate change across the seasons. This rapid change of climate can lead to various bird populations to decline and even become extinct if the species is unable to adapt. It explains how greenhouse gas emission is a huge part of this challenge. The report goes on to suggesting a call of action on how change needs to occur in order for protect bird’s ecosystems by ultimately reducing greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030.
Whittle, Patrick. “As Lobster Population Shifts North, Connecticut Industry Struggles.” Courant.com, Hartford Courant, 12 Dec. 2018, www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-ap-lobsters-moving-north-0819-20150818-story.html.
This report by the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protections describes how habitats and wildlife will be impacted by sea level rise. In particular it explains how the coastal wetlands are experiencing an imbalance between fresh water and salt water in estuarine systems due to sea level rise. It goes on to explain that wildlife will need to either adapt to the climate change or migrate to a new habitat in order to survive. This report focuses on bird, mammals and invertebrate that have been effected. The Department also details ways in which they are helping, for instance, habitat management, land protection and conservation in various areas in Connecticut.