Decreasing Biodiversity
An effect of Climate change
Biodiversity can be defined as the different varieties of plant and animal species in the world or given ecosystem. In nature, in order for ecosystems to function properly a delicate balance must be maintained, meaning each species has a role to play to keep the ecosystem functional and each species is suited for their specific environment. While decreasing Biodiversity can be attributed to many factors such as land development, poaching, and deforestation, climate change plays a big role in the decreasing number of species we see around the world, without having to go into a habitat directly like the previous factors mentioned. In addition, it is also the hardest factor of decreasing biodiversity to combat, as it is a global issue that requires combined efforts across the world to truly combat effectively.
AFFECTED LOCATIONS
Reef Ecosystems
Warmer ocean temperatures destroy coral reefs that are necessary to the survival of many ocean animals who use the reefs for food and shelter.
Arctic Tundra Ecosystems
Warmer climates are making it so that Tundra Ecosystems are shrinking in size because of tree growth that encroaches on the land, diminishing the habitat of animals who live in tundra environments
Arctic Ecosystems
Warmer temperatures melt ice and contribute to habitat loss of land animals in the ecosystem as well as in costal ecosystems elsewhere because of the rise in sea levels the ice melting creates. These warmer temperatures also make it harder for arctic marine life to thrive.
Increased Forest Fires
Increases in temperature affect already dry areas such as Australian forests. Rising temperatures make drier climates that increase the occurrence of Forrest fires, leading to animal deaths caused by the fires and habitat loss.
Early Spring
In many National Parks across the US. climate change has made warmer weather more prevalent, the increase in temperatures lead to earlier spring that throws off the usual timing of animal and plant species.
Climate change is continuing to impact the biodiversity of our world and disrupt the intricate processes in which nature works. The effects of climate change on our flora and fauna are many, ranging from habitat loss due to warmer weather changing the environment so that there is less of a certain habitat or making a habitat unsuitable for the species that have adapted to the previous conditions, changing the natural weather cycles that many species rely on, food scarcity, changing migration patterns/range and many others.
VIDEOS
How does climate change affect biodiversity?
Princeton researchers investigate the impacts of climate change on biodiversity
How losing biodiversity could be killing us