The Ecology of Climate Change & Other Threats to Biodiversity

Final

which regions have warmed the most

the polar regions

why would nights being warmer affect the plants respiration and animal behavior

in the desert, the plants’ stomata open at night to reduce water loss, but the increased heat at night takes out more water than normal. Some animals are nocturnal due to cooler nights, and now are struggling with the heat increase.

How do ectotherms respond to climate change

body temp and metabolic rate are determined by environmental temp

As temp rises, their metabolic activity increases exponentially

This means warming climates may have the largest proportional impacts on ectotherms in already warm regions, rushing them toward thermal limits

How do endotherms respond to climate change

maintain a constant internal body temp

Environmental temp influences how much energy they must spend on heat gain or loss

Large animals lose heat slower (less surface area relative to volume)

Globally, average body size increase as climates get cooler

In warm climates, smaller body size in more efficient, reducing overheating and energy demands

Phenological mismatch

timing of life cycle events in interacting species becomes desynchronized

Phenological mismatch in birds

reproductive timing for food availability, once out of balance can lead to starvation and death

Phenological mismatch in pollinators

emerging earlier than plants, reducing pollination interactions, both populations decline

Phenological mismatch in reptiles

sex ratios controlled by temp thrown out of balance which leads to a decline in mating and decline in offspring

Phenological mismatch in mammals

birth of young not aligned with nutrients in plants (caribou young heavily rely on nutrients in plants that are only available for 6-10 weeks)

Phenological mismatch in Zooplankton VS Phytoplankton

warmer water shifts phyto bloom earlier than zooplankton are able to migrate, meaning they miss food peak leading to population declines

how does climate change threaten biodiversity

warming of the earth that affects the relationship and survivability of animals and their environment

how does pollution threaten biodiversity

runoff, microplastics, and chemicals that alter the environment, atmosphere, and the organisms in the environment

how does habitat loss threaten biodiversity

due to deforestation and urbanization to aide human needs while disregarding the needs of other organisms, forcing them to compete for space

how does overexploitation threaten biodiversity

the over extraction of natural resources that alter the environment either forever or for long term such as oil fracking, diamond mining, dredging ocean floors, logging, and agriculture farms