...Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity 1. Introduction Climate change (also known as global warming) refers to an increase in mean annual surface temperature of the earth’s atmosphere, owing to increases in concentration of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere (Ninan, 2009). Biodiversity, on the other hand, is shorthand for biological diversity, and it is about the living world with which humanity not only co-exist but has evolved as a dependant part. The term biodiversity acknowledges that the natural world is a whole living system, and we are a part of it (Corlett & LaFrankie, 1998). The phase “climate change” and “global warming” are now a part of our lives and rarely does a day goes by without a mention, in the press or on the radio, of the possible causes of climate change and its consequences. This phenomenon has sneaked up on us in a somewhat short period of time and is accelerating at an alarming rate. It is perhaps the most serious problem that is threatening the civilized world today (Ninan, 2009). This paper postulates that climate change poses a serious threat on biodiversity. It will put forward evidence of how biodiversity has been affected worldwide, and will seek a solution to this problem 1.2. Biodiversity and its importance Simply put, biodiversity represents the fabric of life itself. It is comprised not only of numbers of species, but also includes the variety of all life...
Words: 1968 - Pages: 8
...The Impact Of Climate Change On Nature The Impact Of Climate Change On Nature Climate change affects are more complex than just a change in the weather. It refers to seasonal changes which occur over many years. Climate patterns play an important role in molding the ecosystems. Many wildlife species and human cultures depend on them. A change in climate can have a major impact on how and where plants and animals eat and live. For example, a change in the usual rain pattern or temperature can have a drastic affect on when animals breed, migrate, and hibernate. It also affects plant life cycles and their ability to grow. The impact that climate change has on nature can be catastrophic. Climate change has already had a noticeable effect across the globe and on the environment. Glaciers are shrinking, ice along rivers and lakes are melting earlier, plants and animals have shifted their ranges, trees are flowering sooner, and sea levels are rising. These effects were predicted in the past by scientists, and they are finally occurring. Most of climate change is caused by global warming and the greenhouse effect. (Gardiner, 2004) Global warming is a rise in the average temperature on the earth’s surface. Scientists who study the climate have evaluated climate patterns since the early 1800’s. From their evaluations, they have noticed a rise in temperature, from about 0.7 to 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit and they estimate...
Words: 3361 - Pages: 14
...Oceanic Climate Change Promoting Fish Distribution The world’s oceans cover roughly 70% of the Earth’s surface and are experiencing changes in warmer water climates, which is measured by weather statics generally over a thirty-year time span, but changes in just one-decade can give researches an idea of how the ocean’s climate will look in the future. The world’s ocean surfaces have experienced a warmer climate in the last century and current hot spots, which are volcanic regions underneath the earths crust, have even raised two to three times the global average. These areas put off a large amount of heat from volcanic eruptions. Marine researchers have been able to examine the effects of greenhouse gases and global warming in the oceans with a wide array of fish species. All species have thermal tolerance ranges in which they can live; as a result, a vast number of fish species are predicted to become extinct when suitable habits become nonexistent. Increasing oceanic climates is shown to have an effect on the migration movements towards the poles, depth levels, and range expansion or contractions in which fish species can tolerate. Though marine species are constantly moving between habitats, the changes in climates are increasing the magnitude and speed of these distributions (pole ward and depth migrations) in all latitude zones of the world’s oceans. In relation to oceans covering majority of the world’s surface area, it also absorb a far greater majority of the...
Words: 1629 - Pages: 7
...Global Water Crisis: What is the Prognosis While the world has struggled with oil, globalization, and strife, the new crisis that is being increasingly important is the health and capacity of the water supply. Taken for granted, the rising population primarily in developing countries along with the declining freshwater reserves will lead to conflict. In addition there is the issue of climate change, the anthropological effect and how the hydrological cycle suffers because of it. And the supply of trade and food will also be increasingly fragile when the health of ocean ecosystems and its marine life is consistently threatened. In the past people have fought for water in the beginning of their colonization. After the conflicts regarding territories, alliances, and now currently oil, the global economy along with its citizens will again fight for the control of the dwindling water supplies in the face of an increasing population. “Many environmental scientists warn that declining water supplies could lead to wars between nations” (Cunningham, p. 384). If the specifics are studied closely in current international conflicts, the fight for the new oil, water, has already begun. The familiar Middle East conflicts that the United States is engaged in has often been regarded as a way to help secure our oil supply. However some neighboring countries are already moving on to a more striking issue that humans as a species simply aren’t paying enough attention to. “Already, we’ve seen...
Words: 1974 - Pages: 8
...the variety of species within an ecosystem and is something which is under increasing threats on both a local and global scale. An example of a global threat to biodiversity is desertification. Desertification is the process by which fertile, arable, land loses nutrients and life becoming barren. The Sahel region is an area which has been massively affected by desertification, especially since the 1950’s when farmers and other locals began to move into the areas which were habitable and used them as farmland. The farmers allowed their cattle to graze freely which resulted in overgrazing and thus having a severe impact on the biodiversity of the land as many plant species were grazed out of an area by the livestock. This loss of plant life due to over grazing has not only resulted in the immediate short term damage to biodiversity but also long term damage as the top soil loses all anchorage from the plant roots causing it to blow away or be washed away leaving bare rock which plants can’t grow on naturally in the future. Due to both the short and long term effects of desertification I believe it is one of the most severe threats to biodiversity on a global scale. Another global threat to biodiversity is climate change. Climate change is the changing of global temperatures over a long term scale, primarily caused by the greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect. Oceans are especially susceptible to climate change as they have not only the most climate sensitive life...
Words: 1184 - Pages: 5
...Outline for Climate Change Introduction: Why does climate change matter? Biochemically speaking, why is temperature so important? Temperature is critical to biochemical reactions, because it determines the effectiveness of the enzymes controlling the reactions. What is an ectotherm? ectotherms, organisms whose body temperature depends on the surrounding environment. What is the connection between performance and temperature in ectotherms? For these organisms, how fast they grow,1 how quickly they move,2,3 and almost everything else about their behavior and functioning is affected by external temperatures. What is the Goldilocks principle? And to what can it be applied when it comes to temperature? Goldilocks principle when the temperature is just right, enzyme activity is maximized. It is the optimum temperature, where an enzyme or things work at its best. Can be applied to enzymes, performance, population growth rates. How does temperature relate to species richness? As temperature increases the species richness (the number of species in a given area) increases So, what’s the big deal? many biological processes exhibit the same basic hump-shaped relationship with temperature, in which temperatures that are too low or too high impair or sometimes even terminate critical biological processes.1This is why climate change is the focus of so much scientific research. Part 1: Detecting climate change What is the difference between weather and climate? How is this...
Words: 2956 - Pages: 12
...Deforestation and climate change is one of the main causes for extinction. These pressures are both caused by people's actions. People do many things to cause these pressures including burning fossil fuels and knocking down trees. They can cause many negative things to happen, including animal extinction and lost habitats. The mammal and insect populations are becoming endangered in the rainforest because of deforestation and climate change. Of course there are many types of rainforests, including the tropical forest. “The Earth’s land has a diverse selection of forests, based on which vegetations and animals” (Svarney, and Svarney 79) each region has. All the different types of rainforests have there own climates, habitats and organisms, so each rainforest has there own way that the...
Words: 1284 - Pages: 6
...On a global scale, about thirty million species are thought to exist, and nearly a quarter of them will disappear during the lifetimes of middle-aged human beings (Bender, Leone, Stalcup 81). 150 to 200 species go extinct every twenty-four hours. This is one thousand times the rate it is naturally. Extinction growth is directly correlated with human population growth (Scott). It is happening one thousand times faster because of humans. Species Extinction is a serious problem of the present and future. Events occurring, such as ecosystem collapse, are detrimental to our society and the way we live. Everyone should be informed on the importance of biodiversity, the causes, effects, and ways to prevent these problems....
Words: 1521 - Pages: 7
...What is biodiversity? Why does it change? Why is it important to conserve it? INTRODUCTION Presently these days, lots of people live in urban areas. In this case they are separated from the environment. But another important reason why humans will always depend on the environment is because our lives depend on biodiversity. Meaning that we get clothing, medicines, food and furniture from other species. Just because that people rely on biodiversity they have to conserve biodiversity and can save it for future generations (www.scienceclarified.com). But before knowing all the damage this can cause to us, firstly we should know what biodiversity is. Why does it change? Why we have to conserve biodiversity? The aim of this essay is to answer these three questions, so in this paper I will try analyze most important things about biodiversity. MAIN ARGUMENTS The definition of biodiversity has many different connotations, description of species composition interactions between organisms and their environment (Orians, G. H. 1996, p.49). But the major definition of biodiversity is: the variety of life in all its manifestations (Lecture notes). This modern definition can sound like the variety of life on earth, variety of species, and the communities in which they occur. The major elements of diversity are: genetic, taxonomic, and ecological. The first one is Genetic (populations, individuals) – individuals of the same species. It means genetic variations between individuals...
Words: 1646 - Pages: 7
...WHALE SHARK: ENDANGERED SPECIES DUE TO HABITAT DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY POLLUTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE Rhincodon typus, hereafter referred to as whale shark, has been listed as “endangered/threatened” by the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA). An endangered species is defined as “any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or significant portion of its range…” Whereas a threatened species is “any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Whale sharks’ habitats are constantly being destroyed by the increasing levels of pollution in the oceans as well as by anthropogenic climate change. Their population is also dwindling as a result...
Words: 1723 - Pages: 7
...The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming: Definition, Causes, and potential effects to humans, Plants, animal communities and natural resources. Discuss with illustrations. INTRODUCTION There's a delicate balancing act occurring every day all across the Earth, involving radiation the planet receives from space and the radiation that's reflected back out to space. Enormous amounts of radiation, primarily from the sun strikes the Earth's atmosphere in the form of visible light, ultraviolet, infrared and other types of radiation that are invisible to the human eye. About 30 percent of the radiation striking Earth's atmosphere is immediately reflected back out to space by clouds, ice, snow, sand and other reflective surfaces, according to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). The remaining 70 percent of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by the oceans, the land and the atmosphere. As they heat up, the oceans, land and atmosphere release heat in the form of infrared thermal radiation, which passes out of the atmosphere and into space. It is this equilibrium of incoming and outgoing radiation that makes the Earth habitable. Without this balance, the greenhouse effect sets in. Definition Greenhouse Effect: The warming of the atmosphere due to the increased amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxides and methane. These gases form a blanket over the Earth, trapping the energy or heat from the sun and preventing it from leaving the atmosphere...
Words: 2333 - Pages: 10
...Climate change Welcomes the Asian Needle Ant into its ecosystem The Asian needle ant is a native species of ant which has begun vastly spreading throughout the ecosystem; eliminating various native ant species and therefore corrupting how the ecosystem functions. The six-legged, brown-red insect appears to have an almost identical appearance to the Fire ant and Argentine ant; as well as 30 other species of ants. The Asian needle ant has already rapidly migrated from Asia, and can already be found in forests in 9 different states around North East America. It is not uncommon for ants to establish populations outside of their native habitat; with over 200 ant species already discovered in other habitats, with the international transportation and tourism trading system said to be the main cause. Guénard, Benoît, (2009) Formicidae. But what causes the Asian needle ants to invade new habitats and eliminate other ant species? Ants and their survival are greatly affected by changes in temperature and humidity. Therefore, climate change causes the colonisation of ant species in colder climates that are more suitable. Studies and experiments based on the distribution of the Argentine ant have proven that the major factor responsible for their numbers increasing Worldwide is due to climate change. The invasion of the Asian needle ant has had a large range of negative impacts on the ecosystem and its natural ecological functioning. The species is one of the most difficult to rid...
Words: 1283 - Pages: 6
...Effects of Environment on Health in Society ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- 1. Introduction The environment affects our health in a variety of ways. The interaction between human health and the environment has been extensively studied and environmental risks have been proven to significantly impact human health, either directly by exposing people to harmful agents, or indirectly, by disrupting life-sustaining ecosystems. Although the exact contribution of environmental factors to the development of death and disease cannot be precisely determined, the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that thirteen million deaths annually are attributable to preventable environmental causes. The report also estimates that 24% of the global disease burden (healthy life years lost) and 23% of all deaths (premature mortality) are attributable to environmental factors, with the environmental burden of diseases being 15 times higher in developing countries than in developed countries, due to differences in exposure to environmental risks and access to health care. Air Quality Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health and is estimated to cause approximately two million premature deaths worldwide per year. A reduction of air pollution is expected to reduce the global burden of disease from respiratory...
Words: 751 - Pages: 4
...respective roles both at law and science. Lastly but not the least an elaborate conclusion will be given. Definition of Key Terms Environment: Environment refers to the totality of the surroundings within which humans live and exploit resources for their welfare and development. Main Body In order to effectively challenge problems that pose a threat to the earth, there is need for an effective approach which is backed by robust scientific evidence. This would ultimately usher into place a new and more powerful environmental law. In order to appreciate the relationship between the law and science, there is need for understanding of their respective roles towards the achievement of a more sustainable future. The Role of the Law The law has a fundamental role to play in the movement of protecting the environment towards a more sustainable future. In most jurisdictions in the absence of constitutional provisions and legislative enactments to promote the concept of sustainable development, the burden rests on the courts through judicial activism to rise to the challenge of ensuring that development is pursued in such a way that it meets the needs of the present generation without jeopardizing the needs of future generations. The Rio Declaration affirms the importance of law, which...
Words: 3209 - Pages: 13
...Biodiversity Hotspot in Indo Burma Student’s Name Name of Institution Abstract Extinction has been happening over the years without concerns; however there are people who have emerged to create awareness on the importance of conserving the environment for their continuity. For this course some biodiversity hotspots have been identified which host a variety of endemic species which need to be protected. This paper seek to explore how climate change has affected the species, other threats that exist that endanger these species and what is being done to mitigate these threat. Biodiversity Hotspot in Indo Burma Map 1: Indo-Burma a Biodiversity hotspot (Myer, 2000) The biodiversity hotspots concept was brought about by a man called Norman Meyer. There are 25 identified hotspots all over the world and other potential ones are 9 in number. These areas share a similarity of having many endemic species and together they support 60% of world’s mammals, plants, birds, amphibians, and reptiles’ species. One of these hotspots includes the Indo-Burma. Termed as one of world’s biodiversity hotspots the Indo Burma spreads across the eastern parts of Bangladesh extending to the Indias North eastern regions, the southern parts of Bramaputra River, almost the whole of Myanmar and China’s southern and eastern parts of Yunnan Province also including Thailand and minute parts of Penisular Malaysia. Not forgetting the south China’s coastal lowlands, the off shore...
Words: 2130 - Pages: 9
