Premium

Animal Migration and Climate Change

Interactive passage with audio narration, comprehension questions, and printable PDF.

No ratings yet

Just this resource

$1.50

One-time purchase

Best value

Unlock everything

$49.99$29.99/yr

40% off until Aug 1 — 6,000+ resources

Unlock above to use these actions

Format: Interactive (Online), Printable (PDF)
Grades: 5678
Subjects: scienceela
Standards: MS-LS2-4MS-ESS3-5MS-LS4-4; RST.6-8.1RST.6-8.4
Languages: English, Spanish

Send Feedback / Report an Issue

What's included

Reading passage

Reading comprehension

Audio narration

With word word highlighting

Comprehension quiz

Auto-graded

Writing activity

Open-ended response

Glossary & flashcards

Vocabulary practice

Differentiated version

Adapted for varied levels

Spanish translation

Bilingual support

About this reader

This engaging 400-500 word reading passage explores how climate change affects animal migration patterns across multiple species. Students in grades 6-8 will learn about migration as an adaptive behavior and how shifting temperatures and seasons create phenological mismatches between animal arrivals and food availability. The passage covers examples including migratory birds, caribou, sea turtles, monarch butterflies, and whales, demonstrating how climate change disrupts the environmental cues animals rely on for navigation and timing. Aligned to NGSS standards MS-LS2-4 (ecosystem interactions), MS-ESS3-5 (human impacts on Earth systems), and MS-LS4-4 (adaptation and environmental change), this passage connects to literacy standards RST.6-8.1 and RST.6-8.4. The content includes audio integration for accessibility, Spanish translations, differentiated versions for English Language Learners, comprehensive glossary terms, multiple-choice questions, writing activities, and graphic organizers. Students will analyze cause-and-effect relationships in ecosystems and understand how environmental changes impact animal populations and biodiversity.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

Sample passage and quiz content

CONTENT PREVIEW

"A large herd of wildebeests and zebras in the African savannah during migration season." by Vik Joshi / Pexels.

Every year, billions of animals travel thousands of miles in one of nature's most remarkable events: migration. Migration is the seasonal movement of animals from one region to another to find food, reproduce, or escape harsh weather. Animals time these journeys using environmental cues like temperature changes, daylight length, and food availability. However, climate change is disrupting these ancient patterns. Rising global temperatures are shifting the timing of seasons and altering the landscapes along migration routes.

Many migratory birds now face a serious problem called phenological mismatch. This occurs when animals arrive at their destinations at the wrong time. Birds may reach their breeding grounds too early or too late to find peak insect populations. Evidence shows that some bird species now arrive at nesting sites up to two weeks earlier than they did fifty years ago. When insects emerge before birds arrive, or after they leave, the birds struggle to feed their young. This mismatch can cause population declines across entire species.

Birds are not alone in facing these challenges. Caribou in the Arctic migrate to calving grounds where they depend on nutritious spring plants. Warmer temperatures cause plants to grow earlier in the season. By the time caribou arrive, the plants are already mature and less nutritious. Sea turtles navigate ocean currents that are shifting due to warming waters. Monarch butterflies rely on milkweed plants along their migration route, but changing temperatures affect where these plants grow. Whales and fish follow food sources that are moving to cooler waters as oceans warm.

Scientists explain that migration evolved over thousands of years as animals adapted to predictable seasonal patterns. Climate change is rearranging this calendar faster than many species can adjust. When migration timing no longer matches food availability, animals face starvation and reproductive failure. Entire populations can crash when these mismatches continue year after year. Some species may adapt by changing their migration schedules, but others cannot adjust quickly enough.

Understanding how climate change affects migration matters for protecting biodiversity. Migration connects different ecosystems across the planet. When migratory animals decline, the ecosystems they visit also suffer. Plants may not get pollinated, and predators may lose food sources. Scientists observe migration patterns to track climate change impacts and identify species that need protection. Conservation efforts can help by preserving habitat along migration routes and reducing other stressors on animal populations.

Interesting Fact: The Arctic Tern holds the record for the longest migration, traveling about 44,000 miles each year from the Arctic to Antarctica and back. Climate change is now forcing these birds to fly even farther to find food along their route.

What is migration?

Animals staying in one place all yearThe seasonal movement of animals from one region to anotherAnimals hibernating during winterThe process of animals finding shelter

What environmental cues do animals use to time their migration?

Only the position of starsOnly the smell of foodTemperature changes, daylight length, and food availabilityOnly the color of leaves

What does 'phenological mismatch' mean?

When animals migrate to the wrong continentWhen animals arrive at their destinations at the wrong timeWhen animals forget their migration routeWhen animals decide not to migrate

According to the passage, some bird species now arrive at nesting sites how much earlier than fifty years ago?

Up to one week earlierUp to two weeks earlierUp to one month earlierUp to three months earlier

Why do caribou face problems when plants grow earlier in the season?

The plants are too tall to eatThe plants are already mature and less nutritious by the time caribou arriveThere are too many plantsThe plants have moved to a different location

Which animal depends on milkweed plants along its migration route?

Arctic TernCaribouMonarch butterflySea turtle

What can happen when migration timing no longer matches food availability?

Animals find new types of food easilyAnimals face starvation and reproductive failureAnimals stop migrating permanentlyAnimals become larger and stronger

How does the decline of migratory animals affect ecosystems?

It has no effect on ecosystemsIt only affects the animals themselvesPlants may not get pollinated and predators may lose food sourcesIt makes ecosystems healthier

Climate change is causing seasons to shift faster than many species can adapt.

TrueFalse

All migratory animals can easily adjust their migration schedules to match climate change.

TrueFalse