Explain issues related to biodiversity conservation
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commonly referred to as biodiversity, is a measure of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or planet [1-3]. Biodiversity includes diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity) and of ecosystems [4]. Biodiversity plays an important role in maintaining ecosystem productivity, stability, sustainability and other ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being [5-8]. Loss of biodiversity has become a serious issue in many places around the world. Many factors, such as habit loss and degradation, excessive nutrient load, air and water pollution, over-exploitation and unsustainable use of natural resources, and invasive species, contribute to the loss of biodiversity [6,8]. However, global climate change is often considered as one of the major factors causing biodiversity loss [6,7,9].
Global climate change is occurring at an unprecedented rate today mainly due to an increased emission of greenhouse gases such as atmospheric CO2 [10]. Global temperatures have increased by about 0.6-0.76°C since the mid-1800s and are predicted to further increase by 1.4°C to 5.8°C by 2100 [10]. Global mean sea level has risen by 12 to 22 cm during the last century. During the next century, precipitation is also anticipated to increase by about 0.5-1% per decade for most middle- and high-latitude land areas in the northern hemisphere, causing more frequent flooding and droughts [10-12]. Since climate is the fundamental factor that determines organism life-stages such as plant germinationand flowering, it can severely alter habitats and food sources for animals, and ultimately, could have significant impacts on biodiversity of species and ecosystems around the world.
Global Climate Change affects our physical and biological environments, thus, it influences biodiversity both directly and indirectly through its interaction with other environmental factors [8,13]. Living organisms and ecosystems need to adapt to climate change through shifting habitats, changing life cycles, or developing new physical traits [7,8,11,14-16]. Documented effects of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystems mainly include: 1) species extinction and biodiversity loss. Climate change has led to a sharp increase in the rate of species extinction [6,11,13,17]. The Millennium EcosystemAssessment (2005) highlighted a substantial loss of biodiversity on Earth, with some 10- 30% of mammal, bird and amphibian species threatened with extinction [18]. 2) Phenology changes. Changes in phenology (i.e. time of natural events such as reproduction in certain species or the length of growing season) have been documented in many species including both plants and animals [11,13,16,19]. For example, higher temperatures have led to earlier flowering in certain plant species [20] and an increase in the number of eggs laid by the spruce budworm [21]. 3) Shifts in geographic range. Climate change forces organisms to respond by adapting or migrating, and results in geographic range changes for species [6,8]. As an example, the northern boundaries moved further north for some plants and animals as temperature increased [14]. 4) Ecosystem functioning and service changes. Ecosystem production and stability are closely linked to biodiversity. Loss of biodiversity due to climate and land use change may lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating climate change [5,8]. In contrast, increases in biodiversity could enhance ecosystem productivity and carbon sequestration, and may reduce the negative effects of climate change.
Global climate change is occurring at an unprecedented rate today mainly due to an increased emission of greenhouse gases such as atmospheric CO2 [10]. Global temperatures have increased by about 0.6-0.76°C since the mid-1800s and are predicted to further increase by 1.4°C to 5.8°C by 2100 [10]. Global mean sea level has risen by 12 to 22 cm during the last century. During the next century, precipitation is also anticipated to increase by about 0.5-1% per decade for most middle- and high-latitude land areas in the northern hemisphere, causing more frequent flooding and droughts [10-12]. Since climate is the fundamental factor that determines organism life-stages such as plant germinationand flowering, it can severely alter habitats and food sources for animals, and ultimately, could have significant impacts on biodiversity of species and ecosystems around the world.
Global Climate Change affects our physical and biological environments, thus, it influences biodiversity both directly and indirectly through its interaction with other environmental factors [8,13]. Living organisms and ecosystems need to adapt to climate change through shifting habitats, changing life cycles, or developing new physical traits [7,8,11,14-16]. Documented effects of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystems mainly include: 1) species extinction and biodiversity loss. Climate change has led to a sharp increase in the rate of species extinction [6,11,13,17]. The Millennium EcosystemAssessment (2005) highlighted a substantial loss of biodiversity on Earth, with some 10- 30% of mammal, bird and amphibian species threatened with extinction [18]. 2) Phenology changes. Changes in phenology (i.e. time of natural events such as reproduction in certain species or the length of growing season) have been documented in many species including both plants and animals [11,13,16,19]. For example, higher temperatures have led to earlier flowering in certain plant species [20] and an increase in the number of eggs laid by the spruce budworm [21]. 3) Shifts in geographic range. Climate change forces organisms to respond by adapting or migrating, and results in geographic range changes for species [6,8]. As an example, the northern boundaries moved further north for some plants and animals as temperature increased [14]. 4) Ecosystem functioning and service changes. Ecosystem production and stability are closely linked to biodiversity. Loss of biodiversity due to climate and land use change may lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, further exacerbating climate change [5,8]. In contrast, increases in biodiversity could enhance ecosystem productivity and carbon sequestration, and may reduce the negative effects of climate change.
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