Biological diversity (biodiversity) refers to all life forms on Earth and how their interplay and interactions help maintain stable ecosystems.
The biodiversity evident today results from 4.5 billion years of evolution and has been increasingly influenced by humans. However, many ecosystems and lifeforms are endangered due to the prevailing climate change crises, with about one million species on the verge of extinction. Invaluable ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest are turning from carbon sinks into carbon sources because of deforestation, and a considerable percentage of wetlands, such as salt marshes and mangrove swamps, which act as carbon reservoirs, have also disappeared.
According to Ifaw, certain animal species and ecosystems are endangered due to the climate change crises. Some of these animals include the Bramble Cay mosaic-tailed rat, which weighs about 100 grams and is only found on the tiny island of Bramble Cay in the Great Barrier Reef. This reef, however, was destroyed by rising sea levels and has made this rodent species go extinct. The Bramble Cay rat is the first mammal to go extinct due to climate change. The golden toad, also known as Incilius periglenes, native to Costa Rica, has also gone extinct. The toad spotted a bright orange-yellow colour and was 8cm long, with a lifespan of about ten years in the wild. These toads needed the right amount of rain to reproduce, and too heavy rains meant the larvae were stranded on the forest floor—and too little meant they faced dehydration. As a result of unstable weather patterns, the golden toad became unable to reproduce and went extinct.
The Chinook salmon is a protected species that is almost extinct due to commercial fishing and climate change. Climate change, such as increased ocean temperatures, affects Chinook salmon in many ways, one of which is that salmons are more susceptible to predation, parasites, and disease due to warmer waters. Also, glacial meltdowns mean a reduction in freshwater streams in the summer and fall, which makes it difficult for salmons to migrate from freshwater to the ocean. Again, rising sea levels from these meltdowns also denature low-lying estuaries, which these salmon rely on in their juvenile stages.
Another species - the green sea turtle, is experiencing imbalanced sex ratios due to increasing temperatures during egg incubation. This is because cooler temperatures result in the eggs being hatched into a male, and warmer temperatures result in females. Recent research from some nesting beaches shows that females now account for about 99% of newly hatched green sea turtles, creating a severe imbalance and threatening their survival as a species.
The famous and magnificent polar bear is also endangered because their natural habitat dwindles every summer. For Polar bears, ice is essential for hunting, sleeping, mating, and cushioning the dens for raising their cubs. Climate change threatens the Arctic region's stability, compromising Polar bears' survival. Also, as a result, the incidence of human-wildlife conflict is increased as polar bears are forced to land, resulting in more contact with humans.
Whales are affected by rising sea temperatures and are very essential for maintaining the balance in the ocean ecosystem. They play a vital role in keeping prey populations in check, and as the largest animals on Earth, their bodies are designed to sequester large amounts of carbon that could be detrimental to our atmosphere. Whales rely on specific ocean temperatures to migrate, feed, and reproduce, and with rising temperatures come a disruption in these habits, which threatens their survival.
For instance, the North Atlantic right whales are navigating increasing water temperatures, tidal winds and changing ocean currents. As a result, their food sources will migrate in search of more stable environments, resulting in North Atlantic right whales travelling farther for food. This forced migration pattern has a profound effect on females as their birth rates reduce drastically. Sharks are also adversely affected by increasing ocean temperatures as they experience difficulty finding food and have an increased embryo mortality rate as ocean acidity rises worldwide due to climatic change. In the Pacific Ocean, rising temperatures force sharks to migrate northward, disrupting the stability of the marine ecosystem that depends on sharks as apex predators.
Again, corals are rapidly declining as a species, and bleaching, disease, rising ocean temperatures, and ocean acidification are the causes of their decline. These corals, found on the sea bed, are pivotal to the ecosystem, which is home to more than a quarter of marine life. Coral reefs, otherwise known as the rainforest of the sea, are fast becoming endangered. The Caribbeans have lost 50% of their corals since 2005 due to rising sea temperatures and mass bleaching incidents. Japan's government has reported that almost three-quarters of its most extensive coral reefs have died due to increasing sea temperatures. In 2016, Australia's Great Barrier Reef experienced the worst bleaching ever recorded by scientists. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posited that by 2050, about 98% of coral reefs will experience bleaching-level thermal stress.
Another endangered species, bumblebees, one of Earth's most important pollinators, are being forced further north to cooler climates. These fluctuations in temperature are causing spring flowers to bloom prematurely, allowing less time for bee pollination. Extreme rainfall also disrupts their foraging patterns, while natural disasters can destroy their habitats. Also, the salinity of the soil is constantly changing. Most plants cannot adapt, and rising temperatures and changing patterns in pests and diseases will also alter due to climate change's massive impact on cultivated plants. This will, in turn, contribute to food insecurity as a study by Global Citizen found that 40 per cent of all edible crops face imminent extinction due to constantly changing climate conditions.
As a testament to how a small tip in the food chain can affect entire populations, the Adélie penguin has a near-threatened conservation status. This is because of the decline in its primary food source- Krills - which are minute crustaceans living on the undersides of ice sheets.
So, with the ice melt, krill populations are constantly reducing, meaning there is reduced food to support Adélie penguins and the other sea animals like some whales that feed on them.
Decreased rainfall and rising temperatures have impacted the Asian elephants' natural habitat. These patterns have threatened the survival of these animals while reducing the reproductive capacity of this endangered species.
There must be a transformation to combat this imminent danger. There has to be a change in the energy, transport, food, agriculture and forestry systems to ensure that we can reduce global temperature rise to a tolerable level. The Paris Agreement was adopted in December 2015 by 196 countries, and this agreement stipulated that all countries should commit to taking action to address climate change. As specified in the agreement, the main objective is to maintain "the global temperature average to below two °C above pre-industrial levels" and take action "to reduce the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels."
Furthermore, countries established an enhanced transparency framework (ETF) and starting in 2024; countries will report any actions taken and any progress in climate change mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or received.
On a local level, people should be aware of how their carbon footprint contributes to carbon build-up, and they should be encouraged to take deliberate measures to reduce their carbon footprint. The local communities should participate in conservation projects as this helps them build a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the natural environment.
Also, due to the wealth of knowledge and experience of the fauna and flora, involving local communities in conservation projects can help improve the project's effectiveness. Ultimately, this approach helps to promote sustainability in conservation efforts. Also, the government and regulatory agencies should impose stiffer preventive and punitive measures to ensure that the manufacturing, power, and engineering industries are aware of the implications of their actions and take full responsibility for them.
So, while the immediate effects of climate change in terms of erratic weather patterns, food insecurity and respiratory illnesses are most visible to us, climate change has a spiral effect as even the smallest of life forms are affected. Plants, animals and ecosystems are adversely affected as global warming affects oceans and forest ecosystems, severely impacting their stability and ability to function optimally. To this end, there is an urgent need to take bold and innovative steps to preserve ecosystems and conserve biodiversity for now and posterity.
Comments