How can rising temperatures affect species distributions?

Rising temperatures have a significant impact on the distributions of species, primarily through the phenomenon of shifts in their habitats. As global temperatures increase, many species are unable to tolerate the warmer conditions in their current habitats. This drives them to move towards cooler areas, such as higher altitudes or latitudes, where the climate is more suitable for their survival.

These shifts can affect not only the species that are migrating but also the ecosystems they enter, as species interactions, such as predation and competition, can change dramatically. This can lead to the reorganization of communities, potentially allowing some species to thrive while others may decline or even face extinction if they cannot adapt or relocate.

In contrast, remaining in original habitats would mean that species cannot cope with rising temperatures, which would likely lead to negative consequences rather than maintaining their populations effectively. The options regarding migration to equatorial regions or elimination of seasonal patterns do not accurately reflect the broader ecological responses observed with climate change, as these trends are typically more complex and context-dependent.