How does Climate Change affect Flora and Fauna?

We panic hearing about how Global warming — a debacle of our own doing — has endangered the lives of the generation to come, but have we ever stopped to think how other animal and plant species are affected by this disaster?

Introduction:

There are numerous negative externalities caused by climate change, “projections show a decrease in Earth’s sustainability”[1]. Climate change can be termed as the change in climate patterns globally and regionally due to the external factors affecting the earth. Scientists expect an increase in global temperature in the future; this phenomenon is known as Global Warming. Being the primary cause of climate change, Global warming is currently on the rise, according to the IPCC. It is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is the process by which portions of the Earth’s atmosphere act as a blanket, trapping heat. This prevents the heat from escaping the planet, which, although necessary, is a problem when in excess. Although it is potentially hazardous, it is essential to sustain optimal temperatures. Post-Industrial Revolution[2], greenhouse gas emissions have increased tremendously and are constantly snowballing to the point where the planet is inhospitable. The issue at hand needs to be addressed instantly, as the consequences will continue to intensify.

Personal Perspective

I chose this topic because of an intriguing question that struck me while reading an article in the newspaper. I was surprised to see the article mentioning only humankind’s dangerous future due to Climate Change, questioning myself whether animals and plants are affected as thoroughly as humans and how it happens. Through initial research, I deduced that the average man/woman is not aware of the current effect of Climate Change on plants and animals. This appears to be the reason as to why the matter is not dealt with full potential. In another instance, I visited rural Scotland during my holidays and met a local farmer. He told us that a portion of his crops is used to feed native wildlife, but in recent times his output has decreased due to excess rains. As a result, the food chain for those animals is being broken. This showed me what small changes in weather could do to local biodiversity. I think this topic is highly significant because I feel that each species and organism should have a fair chance of coping with Climate Change. Through this essay, I would like to understand this grave situation and its possible resolutions.

Causes and Consequences:

Greenhouse gases are emitted through multiple sources. Some greenhouse gases, like methane, are produced by agricultural methods, for example, cow manure management which releases methane in the process. Carbon Dioxide is essentially expelled through the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. These fossil fuels are used in many applications such as: producing electricity, creating warmth in winter, and as fuel for vehicles. Sulphur dioxide is discharged also through the burning of fossil fuels and the smelting of mineral ores. As mentioned earlier, greenhouse gases chiefly instigate Climate Change. But, is it the only cause? And could Climate Change be affected naturally? Granted, Climate Change is mainly affected by humankind, but it is also affected by natural means. Carbon dioxide is also ousted through respiration, which is vital in all living organisms and expulsion of methane in a body is, likewise, a natural process.

The negative consequences of Climate Change are the issues that need to be revised. There are numerous concerns associated with Climate Change and they pose a great deal of threat. Plants and animals are continuously victimized by Climate change in both their habitat and behaviour. “Analysis of 30,000 nests shows that birds such as the chaffinch and the robin are laying their eggs about a week earlier than in the 1960s”, a survey found. The survey also discovered that birds were altering their nesting and migration patterns, and roaming further to find food. Plants are also blooming earlier in the year. “As the climate changes the sweet spot for seeds comes earlier in the year, so first flowers bloom respectively earlier too”, a group of scientist suggested. Climate change affects the resource availability (food, water etc.), which causes mammals to wake up from hibernation sooner. The sea-level rise from the melting of icebergs due to global warming could cause sea turtles from losing their nesting beaches. This also affects endangered Mediterranean monk seals which depend on beaches to raise their offspring. On the other hand, the atmosphere is draining moisture from the land, leading to severe droughts and, in turn, reduced crop production and thirst. Global warming is increasing the intensities of natural disasters. Hurricanes, floods, forest fires and heatwaves are intensifying and occurring more frequently. These consequences affect both flora and fauna adversely. Moreover, to understand the depth of the issue fully, the extensive research on the effect of Climate Change on coral reefs has been utilized.

National Perspective

There are numerous scenarios where Climate Change greatly affects specific areas and nature within those areas. The Great Barrier Reef is situated to the east of Australia, covering an area as large as Italy. Biodiversity by itself, it is home to numerous species of fish, molluscs, starfish, turtles, dolphins, sharks etc. Limestone, with a skeleton of hard corals, build complex structures known as coral reefs. Hard corals, which are essential in the formation of coral reefs, are highly susceptible to rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification. Slackened growth and loss of hard corals will diminish vital habitat for various flora and fauna. Rising water temperatures instigates Coral Bleaching, which attacks hard coral and whitens the reef. Microalgae contend with corals for space on the reef and will profit from rising temperatures and coral bleaching. Scientists have proven that “worsening reefs can be swiftly overgrown by macroalgae, which in turn obstruct coral recovery”. Ocean acidification provokes the slow-down of Clarification, the process of skeleton (hard corals) formation, which causes the foundation of the reef to be weaker. Natural Disasters also play a role in coral damage. Fortunately, the Great Barrier Reef has adapted to cope with the effects of these cyclones and storms; however, reef recovery is rather sluggish. Scientists predict that these natural disasters will occur more frequently due to Climate Change. Bleaching has an inverse relationship with tourism; as Australia’s income from reef tourism decreases, the investment in the protection and salvation of the reefs decreases. The coral mortality due to bleaching is increasing; in 2016, one-fifth of the corals died. This massive biodiversity is deteriorating due to Climate Change, which is one of the many instances.

The planetary increase in sea level affects a wide range of plants and animals. Not only marine life, but terrestrial animals are sometimes threatened by flooding. In Australia, joeys can be washed from their mother’s pouches and become deserted and isolated.

Global Perspective

The melting of icebergs due to Global Warming accounts for the primary cause of global flooding. It limits access to food, as often grazing paddocks can be saturated in water and incapable to eat. The animals that are affected the most are those living in burrows. There is no escape route as all tunnels are filled with water, which causes drowning. Because of this, underground animals, for example, wombats, rabbits, and meerkats are widely affected. Birds are immune to being washed away, however, a disruption in the food chain poses a problem; waterlogged grass is not a hospitable area for insects to forage. This means that birds need to relocate and will potentially be in the risk of starvation. The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimate that Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge[3] has lost more than 110,000 Laysan Albatross chicks (which make up approximately 22% of chicks born this year) and 2,000 adults due to flooding.

Flooding affects plants as well; the presence of an excessive amount of water would cause plants on the surface to die. The extra moisture in the soil decrease oxygen levels, as there is less space for oxygen bubbles. This impedes the respiration in the roots which leads to the build-up of Carbon Dioxide, methane, and Nitrogen, and, ultimately, the suffocation of the plant. Toxic compounds like ethanol and hydrogen sulphide could form due to ocean water. If leaves are submerged, the process of photosynthesis would slow down, causing the growth of the plant to stop. Expanses of the Somerset Levels[4] have been continuously underwater since December 2015; which are home to a variety of wildlife. The effect of flooding is threatening to both flora and fauna as it poses a huge loss in wildlife.

The course of Action:

Climate Change does not have an immediate solution; we need to initiate our solution to this crisis now to see reverse effects in at least 30 years (according to IPCC), nevertheless, the resolutions to the issue are necessary to implement. The use of fossil fuels to provide energy must be heavily regulated due to its polluting nature. Humans should rely on renewable sources of energy, for example, sun, water, and wind for their needs. This would help reduce the pollutants in the atmosphere because fossil fuels are responsible for the highest greenhouse gas expulsion. The use of electric vehicles and sustainable energy would drastically reduce the effects on Climate Change. As stated by the Greenpeace Organization, “The barriers holding us back (from using renewable sources) are purely political — not technical or economic”. This suggests that most of the obstacles for a green future are purely in our control. The developing world has considerable demand for wood; this is the main reason for high deforestation rates in the world. Afforestation, the growing of plants in a particular region, would result in a reduction of carbon levels in the atmosphere as it is absorbed by the trees. The increasing demand for goods and services is travelling on a path to unsustainability. The human population has to control its demand to limit the exhaustion of resources which contribute to global warming. Through contraception, family planning, and one-child policies, the population growth may witness an about-turn. Innovation in technology to help sustain a better future is the most efficient way to handle this problem. Inventions like the catalytic converter (converts pollutants into less harmful gases chemically) in automobiles limit the number of pollutant emissions. In the subject of automobiles, carpooling confines the output of greenhouse gases. Experts suggest we are not doing enough to cope with the effects of Climate change, “[We] still find ourselves in a situation where we are not doing nearly enough to save hundreds of millions of people from a miserable future,” said Erik Solheim, the UN environment chief.

Conclusion and Reflection:

Adverse Climate Change was instigated at the peak of the Industrial Revolution. Since then, Humans have been foreseeing rapid development at the cost of the environment. To achieve stability on earth, we must work together to battle the negative consequences of Global Warming. As a community and as an individual, we must rectify the effects of climate change while it is still in our hands.

Evaluation of this current matter required numerous facts and knowledge claims which proved my opinions. The projections that were made regarding Climate Change were based on many tests conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC is an international body under the auspices of the UN who are, “dedicated to the task of providing the world with an objective, scientific view of climate change and its political and economic impacts”.

A Side Note

Reported when I was in 10th grade when studying about global perspectives, this topic required hours of research and evaluation to write about. However, to this date, I stand by my opinion that this is a serious problem and we must take action immediately.

[1] according to the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

[2] The transition to new production methods, from 1760 to 1830

[3] An area in the pacific that provides nesting grounds for many seabirds

[4] A coastal Plain in Somerset, South West England

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