Q.(a) Give the effects of global warming on plants and animals. OR

(a) Global warming disrupts habitats, species ranges and breeding cycles, and stresses ecosystems via extreme weather. (b) Guppy, Goldfish, Angelfish, Molly and Betta are widely kept freshwater ornamental fishes, each with distinct, hardy, colourful characteristics.

(a) As global temperatures rise, polar ice and glaciers melt, raising sea levels and flooding or eroding low-lying coastal habitats that many plants and animals depend on; many species are forced to shift their geographic range toward cooler areas (poleward or to higher altitudes) to survive, and the timing of breeding, migration and flowering can become mismatched with the availability of food or pollinators. Warmer, more acidic oceans cause coral bleaching, devastating coral reef ecosystems and the many species that depend on them, while more frequent droughts, heatwaves and extreme storms place additional physiological stress on both plants and animals, sometimes pushing temperature-sensitive or narrow-range species toward local extinction. (b) Among freshwater ornamental fishes, the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a small, hardy livebearer prized for its vivid, varied colours; the Goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a cold-water species popular for its long lifespan and many selectively bred colour/body forms; the Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) has a tall, triangular body and calm temperament, popular in community aquariums; the Molly (Poecilia sphenops and relati …