The changes in the carbon cycle impact each reservoir. Excess carbon in the atmosphere warms the planet and helps plants on land grow more. Excess carbon in the ocean makes the water more acidic, putting marine life in danger. Climate change also alters the life cycles of plants and animals as temperatures get warmer, many plants are starting to grow and bloom earlier in the spring and survive longer into the fall. Some animals are waking from hibernation sooner or migrating at different times, too. Possible consequences of these effects include species decline and extinction, change within ecosystems, increased prevalence of invasive species, forests converting from carbon sinks to carbon sources, ocean acidification, disruption of the water cycle, and increased occurrence of natural disasters. The carbon cycle plays a key role in regulating Earth's global temperature and climate by controlling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect itself is a naturally occurring phenomenon that makes Earth warm enough for life to exist. Since carbon dioxide also efficiently emits heat, any heat captured by carbon dioxide sooner escapes to space than it finds another molecule to absorb it. As a result, an increase in greenhouses gases like carbon dioxide means more heat is lost to space and the upper atmosphere cools. The concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere is currently at nearly 412 parts per million (ppm) and rising. This represents a 47 percent increase since the beginning of the Industrial Age, when the concentration was near 280 ppm, and an 11 percent increase since 2000, when it was near 370 ppm.

Excess carbon in the atmosphere warms the planet and helps plants on land grow more. Excess carbon in the ocean makes the water more acidic, putting marine life in danger. The carbon cycle plays a key role in regulating Earth's global temperature and climate by controlling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect itself is a naturally occurring phenomenon that makes Earth warm enough for life to exist. The concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere is currently at nearly 412 parts per million (ppm) and rising. This represents a 47 percent increase since the beginning of the Industrial Age, when the concentration was near 280 ppm, and an 11 percent increase since 2000, when it was near 370 ppm. More frequent and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy the places they live, and wreak havoc on people's livelihoods and communities. As climate change worsens, dangerous weather events are becoming more frequent or severe. Climate change affects human health and wellbeing through more extreme weather events and wildfires, decreased air quality, and diseases transmitted by insects, food, and water. The changes in the carbon cycle impact each reservoir. Excess carbon in the atmosphere warms the planet and helps plants on land grow more. Excess carbon in the ocean makes the water more acidic, putting marine life in danger. Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and much of this carbon dioxide is then stored in roots, permafrost, grasslands, and forests. Plants and the soil then release carbon dioxide when they decay. Other organisms also release carbon dioxide as they live and die. Without carbon dioxide, Earth's natural greenhouse effect would be too weak to keep the average global surface temperature above freezing. By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperature to rise.

The disruption of the carbon cycle and global warming can have significant effects on the environment and life cycles of organisms:

Effects on the environment:

• Increased temperatures: As CO2 and other greenhouse gases trap more heat in the atmosphere, global temperatures increase. This causes rising sea levels, melting glaciers, more frequent heat waves, etc. These changes alter weather patterns and the distribution of plants and animals.

• Changes in precipitation: The increased heat affects evaporation and causes changes in rainfall and snowfall patterns. Some regions may experience increased precipitation while others become drier. This can lead to more frequent or intense droughts, floods, wildfires, etc.

• Ocean acidification: As the ocean absorbs more CO2, the pH of the water decreases making it more acidic. This acidification harms marine life like coral reefs and shellfish. It disrupts the entire ocean ecosystem.

• Shifts in climate zones: As the climate changes, the boundaries of climate zones and biomes may shift. For example, deserts and forests may expand into adjacent grasslands. The ranges of plants and animals also shift, with many species unable to adapt quickly enough.

Effects on life cycles:

• Timing of key events: Global warming affects the timing of key events in plant and animal life cycles like blooming, hibernation, migration, etc. These changes disrupt interconnected ecologies and food webs in the environment.

• Geographic distribution: Many species are expanding or shifting their ranges to adapt to the changing climate. However, some species are unable to shift fast enough and go extinct. Distribution of pests and diseases also change posing risks to human health and agriculture.

• Population sizes: The changes in timing, distribution and availability of food sources can impact population sizes. Some species may experience population booms while others suffer severe declines or extinction.

• Survival of sensitive species: Species that depend on cold environments or specific climate niches are most vulnerable to warming. Polar bears, penguins, pikas, etc. experience loss of habitat and food sources threatening their survival.

• Changes in relationships: The interaction between interconnected species in an ecosystem are delicately balanced. Even small changes in the life cycle of one species can cascade through the whole system. These changes alter predator-prey relationships, competition for resources, etc. impacting biodiversity.

In summary, the effects of disruption to the carbon cycle and global warming are complex and pervasive. Urgent action is needed to mitigate and adapt to these far-reaching consequences on the environment and life on the planet. Reducing CO2 emissions and transitioning to more sustainable practices can help curb these damaging impacts.

Thanks Dr. Marwan Hany for participating in the discussion.

The changes in the carbon cycle impact each reservoir. Excess carbon in the atmosphere warms the planet and helps plants on land grow more. Excess carbon in the ocean makes the water more acidic, putting marine life in danger. Climate change also alters the life cycles of plants and animals as temperatures get warmer, many plants are starting to grow and bloom earlier in the spring and survive longer into the fall. Some animals are waking from hibernation sooner or migrating at different times, too. Additionally, heavier rainy seasons, extended droughts or unpredictable snowfall in regions that aren't used to that precipitation may cause animal and plant habitat destruction. Plants may freeze or shrivel up, and animals may have difficulty staying warm or finding enough food or water. Individual organisms die; new ones replace them, which ensure the survival of the species. During its life cycle, an organism goes through physical changes that allow it to reach adulthood and produce new organisms. Since these changes are common within a species, they can be grouped into stages of development. In some cases, poor environmental conditions damage a plant directly. In other cases, environmental stress weakens a plant and makes it more susceptible to disease or insect attack. Environmental factors that affect plant growth include light, temperature, water, humidity and nutrition. Habitat loss due to climate change is one of the major reasons for species extinction and loss of biodiversity. According to a paper published in Springer Nature, global warming in the coming decades will result in the habitat decline of the Indian brown mongoose in the Western Ghats. Rising temperatures lead to more frequent droughts, wildfires, and invasive pest outbreaks, leading to the loss of plant species. That has numerous detrimental effects including: Lowered Productivity: Longer droughts and increased number of heat waves will stress plants, causing them to be less productive.