Posted by Jamie in Climate Change, Endangered Animals, Green Articles, featured | 0 Comments
The Effect of Climate Change on Ecosystems
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An overwhelming number of studies by different groups of scientists revealed how climate change has strong implications on the biology of ecosystems. These studies imply that climate change is an evident factor that can potentially change the way various ecosystems work. This can be a major threat to several species living in an ecosystem because such changes are disruptive to the natural flow of ecosystem dynamics, phenology and distribution of species.
At worst, climate change can lead to the extinction of populations and species as a result of the chaos that it brings to the ecosystem. Increase in global temperature can cause species to leave their natural habitat and seek new areas to live in since biodiversity is reduced and the natural resources it provides are compromised. Their alternative to leaving may be death.
Global Change Biology Study
A study was conducted by a team of scientists headed by Stephen Thackeray of the United Kingdom’s Centre of Ecology and Hydrology on the phenology of various species belonging to several ecosystems located in the U.K. Phenology is defined as the flow and timing of seasonal activities that occur in a species’ life cycle. It has been proven that global warming can impact a species’ phonological events, as published by these U.K. scientists in the scientific journal Global Change Biology.
Evidence was revealed that in between 1976 and 2005, the phenological patterns exhibited by these species happened earlier as compared to how they were 30 years ago. The pace of change has been speeding up constantly with every decade. There has been a progressive increase in the timing of spring activities due to earlier spring times. This is catastrophic for species that are especially predatory and rely on the food chain.
The IPCC Study
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) verified findings like the one above and also concluded that various species may be at the risk of extinction from global warming impacts within this century, if greenhouse gas emissions and other changes go on at or above present rates.
The IPCC predicted that by the year 2100, ecosystems will be exposed to atmospheric CO2 levels that are substantially higher than in the past 650,000 years.
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