Species (either terrestrial or freshwater or marine), have particular preferences for the kind of environment they would like to live in. Species may respond to climate change (e.g. rise of temperature) either staying or moving out or dying out. Rise of ambient temperature can cause species shifts or changes in their phenology (lifecycle event). For example, species may move to their preferred environmental conditions resulting in changes in their range. A pattern of range shifts such as polewards and upwards has been documented in a number of species of plants and animals and could be one of the strongest signals of biotic change from global warming. These range shifts may result in either an expansion or contraction or even extinction of species from an area.
Question: Whether terrestrial or aquatic species will be most impacted due to climate change? (Any weblinks or references relevant to this topic would be much appreciated)
Recently， it was said that climate change 's role is small for US forest species. please google the related studies.
Aquatic species are mostly affected due to climate change and water pollution. Terrestrial species can find new places when their habitat disturbed, but aquatic species are facing severe problems including mass mortality. Restoration and conservation is well established for the terrestrial animals, but for marine and freshwater species, very few protected areas have been established. This is the right time to safe guard these living resources for the benefit of our future generation and proper functioning of the earth systems. Thank you for providing an opportunity to write on this important topic.
Hydrilla verticillata (L.F.) Royle invaded in the last five years, and also Corbicula sp in Iraq significantly. Moreover, most of endemic species in aquatic systems have lost. I think these missing might be due to the impact of the interaction between climate change and pollution
Dear Fikrat,
Yes invasive species has certainly some advantages over the native species, since invasive species are generally adaptable, able to tolerate or take advantage of change and disturbance. Native species and ecosystems stressed by climate change will be less competitive and more vulnerable to threats by invasive species. Research carried out (USA ) found that elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) enhanced the growth of invasive species Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle), and that the percentage of the enhancement was strongly temperature dependent. Warming also helped the appearance and increase of taxa typical from slow flowing or standing waters and warmer temperatures including invasive species (e.g. Corbicula sp. and Atyaephyra desmarestii) in European Rivers
References
D. X. Chen, M. R. Coughenour , J. S. Thullen and D. Eberts.Global climate change response program. Assessment of responses of `hydrilla verticillata` to atmospheric change with modeling predictions for four western United States reservoirs. Final report .https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255034689_Global_climate_change_response_program._Assessment_of_responses_of_hydrilla_verticillata_to_atmospheric_change_with_modeling_predictions_for_four_western_United_States_reservoirs._Final_report
Floury M, Usseglio-Polatera P, Ferreol M, Delattre C, Souchon Y.2013. Global climate change in large European rivers: long-term effects on macroinvertebrate communities and potential local confounding factors.Glob Chang Biol. 19(4):1085-99. doi: 10.1111/gcb.12124. Epub 2013 Jan 24.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23504886
Article Global climate change response program. Assessment of respon...
He Golam Kibria; Following links may be useful for you.
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/287/5459/1770.short
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/325/5946/1355.short
http://www.jstor.org/stable/1313420
Regards
I think it´s difficult to get a clear answer to that question, because there are more factors that affect biodiversity: pollution, overexploitation of ecosystems (overfishing, massive logging and mining operations), introduction of invasive species,etc. One of the most biodiverse and endangered (by pollution, ocean acification, overfishing) ecosystems on Earth are the coral reefs. Check for literature on this subject.
Dear Jose A,
Yes, ocean acidification (decrease in ocean pH) is one of the most critical anthropogenic threats to marine life, in particular to calcifying organisms. Corals, echinoderms and molluscs (bivalves and gastropods) were very sensitive to decline in the pH value. The shells of pteropods (important food source for salmon, birds, tiny krill, and giant whales) are being severally dissolved by ocean acidification.
References
Hendriks,I. E., Duarte, C. M., A´lvarez, M. 2010. Vulnerability of marine biodiversity to ocean acidification: A meta-analysis. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 86: 157–164.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027277140900537X
Wittmann, A.C. and Pörtner, H-O..2013. Sensitivities of extant animal taxa to ocean acidification. Nature Climate Change. Publihsed Online: 25 August, DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1982.http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v3/n11/full/nclimate1982.html
Bednaršek, N., G.A. Tarling., E. C. D. Bakke., S. Fielding., E.M. Jones, H.J. Venables, P. Ward., A. Kuzirian, B. Lézé, B., R. A. Feely and E. J. Murphy 2012. Extensive dissolution of live pteropods in the Southern Ocean. Nature Geoscience. DOI: 10.1038/ngeo1635.http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/20728/1/Bednarsek%20et%20al%20NGEO.pdf
It's a very interesting question. In my (humble) opinion, aquatic ecosystems (marine or freshwater) will be most impacted for two reasons:
- first because the base of the marine food web is quickly impacted by all environment changes (including temperature, nutrients availability, currents circulation and more others). This first trophic level (phytoplankton in general) allows carbon and energy transfer through higher trophic level (zooplankton, fishes...). In terrestrial ecosystems, the based of trophic food web is more resistant in the sense that plant species have a long life (compared to phytoplankton) and so have an improved resilience. They live often for several years and could tolerate highly variable conditions (from winter to summer). That is not the case for marine "plant" species which have a life cycle of one season.
- the second reason, as cited above, is that terrestrial ecosystems are well-known (compared to ocean systems for example), and there are also already protected by some measures. Ocean systems are very vast and it's is hard to predict how this system will react in the context of climate change (some papers talk about resilience followed by a "breaking point").
I would be really happy to have feedback on this answer.
Best regards
Anne-Hélène
Article Catastrophic Shifts in Ecosystems
Article The Impact of Climate Change on the World’s Marine Ecosystems
Dear Anne-Helene Reve,
Thank you for your good comments and inclusion of some important references
Kind regards
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312029756_Climate_change_impacts_on_tropical_and_temperate_fisheries_aquaculture_and_seafood_security_and_implications_-_A_review
Article Climate change impacts on tropical and temperate fisheries, ...
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