Syed Asad Hussain
MANY studies in recent years have investigated the effects of climate change on the future of biodiversity. In this review, we first examine the different possible effects of climate change that can operate at individual, population, species, community, ecosystem and biome scales, notably showing that species can respond to climate change challenges by shifting their climatic function along three non-exclusive axes: time, space and self. Then, we review the principal specificities and stipulations of the most common approaches used to estimate future biodiversity at global and sub-continental scales and we synthesize their results. Climate change will be the fastest-growing cause of species loss in the Americas by mid-century, according to a new set of reports from the leading global organization on ecosystems and biodiversity.
Climate change, alongside factors like land degradation and habitat loss, is emerging as a top threat to wildlife around the globe, the reports suggest. In Africa, it could cause some animals to decline by as much as 50 percent by the end of the century, and up to 90 percent of coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean may bleach or degrade by the year 2050. Numerous other threats still challenge the world’s biodiversity, from pollution and over mistreatment to land-use change and habitat loss, and in many places these are still greater immediate dangers to the world’s wildlife than climate change. But the new series of reports emphasize that action on global warming is also action in favour of wild plants and animals. And in turn, protecting the world’s remaining natural places is also a step toward safeguarding the climate.
“Many factors like land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change are three different faces of the same central challenge: the increasingly dangerous impact of our choices on the health of our natural environment,” IPBES Chairman Robert Watson said in a statement, “We cannot afford to tackle any one of these three threats in isolation—they each deserve the highest policy priority and must be addressed together.” Land degradation is also a significant contributor to climate change, the report warns. Deforestation, the destruction of wetlands and other forms of land conversion can release massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, which may worsen global warming. Climate change can continue the cycle by thawing out frozen ecosystems, creating harsher conditions for vegetation to survive, and increasing the severity of storms and other natural disasters, which can also damage natural landscapes. Africa is particularly vulnerable, the reports suggest, with some bird and mammal species facing decline of up to 50 percent if serious action isn’t taken. Africa’s lakes could also see decline in productivity of up to 30 percent by the end of the century. Other global regions are facing major risks, as well. In the Americas, about 31 percent of all indigenous species are believed to have been lost since European settlers first arrived. Under a “business-as-usual” trajectory, and accounting for other threats, such as habitat loss, the report suggests that this number could climb as high as 40 percent by 2050.
Our planet is warming faster than at any time in the past 10,000 years. With these changes, species have to adapt to new climate patterns. Global warming is resulting from human emissions of greenhouse gases. The consequences include habitat loss shifts in climatic conditions and in habitats that surpass emigrational capabilities; altered competitive relationships. Evidence suggests that the warming of the past century already has resulted in marked ecological changes, including changes in growing seasons, species ranges and patterns of seasonal breeding. The fate of many species in a rapidly warming world will likely depend on their ability to migrate away from increasingly less favourable climatic conditions to new areas that meet their physical, biological and climatic needs.
Changes to ecosystems as a result of climate change are likely to have significant and often negative social, cultural and economic consequences. However, there is still uncertainty about the extent and speed at which climate change will impact biodiversity and ecosystem services, and the thresholds of climate change above which ecosystems are irreversibly changed and no longer function in their current form. It is important to predict the response of biodiversity to such rapidly changing temperatures. With the help of accurate predictions, scientists can assess potential risks and take measures to avoid any negative consequences. Studies have suggested that climate change could be a bigger threat than habitat destruction for the global biodiversity.
Climate change resulted in a phonological shift in flowering plants along with insect pollinators which creates a mismatch between the plant and its pollinator population. This has resulted in the extinction of the plant as well as the pollinator. For example, bees are disappearing and soon might become extinct if some steps are not taken. Because of the climate change, species might not be able to adapt to the new environmental conditions and might fall outside its climatic niche. There should be an equally adaptive response by the species and individuals in order to survive. Our studies of the impact of climate change on global biodiversity are insufficient and inconclusive. However, there are enough studies to raise some serious concerns for the survival and future of global biodiversity. It is not difficult to foresee several ecological problems looming ahead if the current trends continue. While the average land temperature has risen, it has resulted in the melting of polar ice caps. There can be many things that can be done to slow down the climate change. By using more efficient and renewable sources of energy, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. By using fewer aerosol and aerosol-related products, we can reduce the greenhouse effect. Energy should be consumed, both in residential as well as commercial sectors. There should also be a strong emphasis on afforestation.
To conclude, we can say that the current practices of burning fossil fuel along with other factors have resulted in a change in the global climate of the planet. While several environmental conditions play a part in the presence and function of the biodiversity of a particular area, climate change is the major driver of some worrying patterns related to biodiversity. There have been many studies on the subject and yet there is a lot to be explored. The present climate change is rapid and has impacted the biodiversity on a large scale. Biodiversity is extremely important for human life as all species interact with each other and are vital to human survival. The effects of increasing pollution, carbon dioxide and deforestation is leading to an alarming increase in the average world temperature. When we discuss the effects of climate change, we generally hear about the change to land and atmosphere. However, global warming affects the oceans and other water bodies as well. While rapid climate change is a threat to biodiversity, there are some measures that can help slow down the pace of global warming. Some of these steps are afforestation and reducing the dependence on fossil fuels.
— The writer is currently working in multinational educational institute at a Administrative Position in Customer Services Department.
