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Environment
Ellen Welti, Research Ecologist, Great Plains Science Program, Smithsonian Institution

Climate change is making plants less nutritious − that could already be hurting animals that are grazers

The giant panda's diet is almost 100% bamboo. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

More than one-third of all animals on Earth, from beetles to cows to elephants, depend on plant-based diets. Plants are a low-calorie food source, so it can be challenging for animals to consume enough energy to meet their needs. Now climate change is reducing the nutritional value of some foods that plant eaters rely on.

Human activities are increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and raising global temperatures. As a result, many plants are growing faster across ecosystems worldwide.

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