BIOSCI 109: Lecture 2 - Ecological Explorations: Climate Change

Aotearoa's Isolation and it's Effects

Aotearoa's island morphology makes us isolated from other places and also means we follow island biogeography.

This means that a lot of our species evolved independently from other places. This made it so that we have a lot of endemic species with typically smaller ranges and niches

Climate Change's Effect on Aotearoa

Typically, we'd be able to predict cliamte change's effect. However, Aotearoa's uniqueness means that new effects and outcomes may arise that are observed anywhere else

Predicitng Climate Change Effects

Typically, we'd be able to figure out the timing of natural events. Climate change has shifted the timing of some and intensified the magnitude of others.

We can also predict how climate change may affect populations and ecosystems. Such as how it may impact interactions between species, the expansion of invasive species, and so on

Climate Change's Effect on Economies

Overall, climate change has been pushing economies and economic processes to be more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

It has pushed for more inventions and sustainable technologies while also promoting transparent sustainable practises (thanks to policies, fees, and so on). Socially, it has also encouraged people to buy more sustainably too.

Climate Change's Effect on Perspectives

Climate change's urgency has helped to bring people together more while also allowing us to be more serious about the present and future impacts.

It's also helped us foster a more open perspective that incorporates viewpoints from many communities, allowing more to contribute to the conversation

Climate Change's Threats

However, climate system still has its threats. Places have been getting heatwaves of higher magnitudes while also amplyifying the magnitude of events. A lot of the times, these events may lead to aggravated effects as they happen simulataneously or sequentially

As for our societies, climate change has also amplified the spread of diseases while also making us lose important carbon sinks & feedback mechanisms. It seems to be amplified for minorities too, perpetuating social inequality. It has negative impacts on our mental health. And, in the future, climate change may encourage places to invade and colonise into more liveable land

Adaptation vs. Mitigation

Adaptation is finding ways to live with the effects of a problem.

Mitigation is finding ways to change the cause of a problem.