Climate Change’s Impact on Biodiversity

Why is Biodiversity important?

A healthy ecosystem requires a large variety of different plant and animal life. Rich biodiversity increases ecosystem productivity. For example the more species we have on the planet the more they can all depend on each other. Human health can be affected by biodiversity because by having a variety of plants, fungi, and animals, we buffer our bodies against disease and infection, and we can also use certain plants to make medicines that treat disease and infection. Having rich biodiversity also ensures we have clean air, water, soil, and other materials we may need. The air we breathe is cleansed by contributing members of the ecosystem. With more species becoming endangered and extinct everyday, the future can be uncertain. When one species is lost, it causes a chain reaction and other species will continue to be lost. 

How is Climate Change Playing a Role?

Climate change is an abnormal shift in climate patterns, it will cause the world to fluctuate along with the ecosystems around it. With temperatures and sea levels rising around the globe, it is making it difficult for plants and animals to adapt to these changes. Those who cannot adapt will die. One huge example of this is the coral reefs. Coral reefs are part of the most diverse ecosystem on the planet. They provide protection from the damaging effects from storms, and they provide shelter and habitat for many marine organisms. We also use the coral reefs to make certain medicines that help us survive. It is estimated that 27% of coral reef systems have already been destroyed and 32% is at risk of being destroyed over the next 32 years. With the coral reefs dying off, this leaves many marine organisms at risk without proper habitat, and nutrition. 

Altered land use

The destruction of land to create new cities and agricultural fields can shift climate, this is due to the chopping down of trees and plants that cool the atmosphere. Natural landscapes that are destroyed to create agricultural fields are causing more greenhouse gases to be emitted into the atmosphere because it is used for more food production. Overpopulation is a key factor in this. One way we could partially solve this problem is reducing the amounts of chemicals we use in agriculture production, or finding more eco-friendly methods. With the destruction of land also comes the destruction of habitats that species live in, this is contributing to the mass extinction rates we are having now. 

How can society reduce biodiversity loss?

There are many ways we as society can reduce the loss of biodiversity. A good place to start would be investing in more eco-friendly options, reducing meat consumption, and donating to agencies like the World Wildlife Foundation that are already helping the cause. Be overall more aware of what you are putting into the environment around you!

-Kaila Teets