[INFORMATIVE] The Impact of Climate Change on Ecosystems

The Impact of Climate Change on Ecosystems

By: Wajiha Hasan

Climate change is occurring rapidly, becoming a threat to ecosystems worldwide with each passing day. We humans are the paramount cause. Without realizing our actions, we damage our surroundings, which seem most beneficial to us at a certain point.

What is climate change?
You can identify the meaning in the word itself, but people often mistake climate for weather. Although this is sort of accurate, it's still incorrect. Climate is different from weather because it is measured over a longer period, while weather is measured occasionally and can change very often. But to be more precise, climate change refers to a long-term shift in pattern, usually in temperature or weather, either at a specific location or the planet as a whole. One thing to be aware of is that different places have different climates. For example, in New York, the climate is cold in winter and hot in summer, whereas in Florida, winter is not as cold and summers are hot and rainy. Although both of these states are in the same country, they have differing climates due to their locations. Climate change used to occur due to large volcanic eruptions that released gasses and other particles into the atmosphere, which caused the Earth to become warmer. However, since the 1800s, it has been largely caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. These actions lead to a bigger problem. These increase the accumulation of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, trapping heat and causing global temperatures to rise. The main greenhouse gasses, carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), are the source of climate change, which originate from transportation: using gasoline (used to fuel up cars, buses, or bikes to arrive at a destination) and coal for heating up a building. Carbon dioxide is also released from cutting out trees since trees absorb carbon dioxide from their leaves for photosynthesis (a process that converts light energy into chemical energy) and releases oxygen into the atmosphere. So, when humans cut down trees, sequestration occurs, which puts stored carbon back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. On the other hand, methane originates from agriculture, oil, and gas production. This energy and land use caused the Earth to be 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer compared to the late 1800s, during the Industrial Revolution (a period of technological development).

What are ecosystems?
The prefix ‘eco’ implies a part of the world, while systems refer to coordinating units. Ecosystems are a mix of abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) factors interacting with each other. It can be classified as an open system where energy and materials can move in and out of their boundaries. Organisms in an ecosystem are conventionally well-adjusted to their environment and one another, helping to maintain balance and stability. They are very diverse and come in many different sizes. Regardless of their size, they can provide habitat for animals and other organisms, such as plants, worms, bacteria, etc. The entire ecosystem contains producers, consumers, and decomposers. Producers, also known as autotrophs, such as plants, make their own food through photosynthesis; all organisms, specifically herbivores (plant eaters), rely on them. Without them, the whole ecosystem will collapse since all organisms depend on each other. Moving on to consumers, also known as heterotrophs, which depend on other organisms for food, In a food pyramid, there are primary consumers (herbivores that depend on producers for food), secondary consumers (carnivores—meat eaters or omnivores—meat or plant eaters that rely on primary consumers for energy), tertiary consumers (carnivores or omnivores that rely on secondary consumers for food), and quaternary consumers, as seen in some pyramids, who rely on tertiary consumers for food and have no natural predators. Lastly, there are decomposers, also known as saprotrophs, such as bacteria that feed on dead organisms and recycle nutrients back into the environment. In a food pyramid, as you go up each step, most of the energy is lost as heat. They use the remaining energy for daily activities like movement.

The Polar Regions
Polar regions are areas of the Earth that are located around the North and South Poles. They are unique ecosystems that distinguish intensely cold landscapes covered in ice. The two main polar regions are the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The only similarities they have are that both are the darkest, coldest, and iciest areas of the world. They have more differences and are opposites of each other in many ways.
Arctic Region

• It consists of a large ocean, the Arctic Ocean.
• Slower movement of the sea ice
• Thicker sea ice than the Antarctic (2 cm to 3 cm)
• The bright surface of the sea ice serves as a huge reflector, reflecting some of the sun's rays, which helps with the equilibrium of the earth’s climate.
• It helps circulate oceans by moving the warm and cold waters around.
• Arctic hare, Arctic wolf, killer whale, lemmings, walruses, caribou, etc.

Antarctic Region

• Made up of the continent of Antarctica
• Sea ice moves more freely than in the Arctic due to the surrounding ocean.
• Has more snow cover than the Arctic due to higher precipitation.
• Arctic ice covers 98% of Antarctica.
• 1.6 meters in sea ice thickness
• Sea ice melts in the summer and forms in the winter.
• Has blue whales, leopard seals, colossal squid, emperor penguins, etc.

Since the climate is warming up rapidly, it's affecting Polar regions the most, especially the Arctic. The change has become especially noticeable over the past few decades, alternating wildlife and habitats. The sea ice covers are growing thinner, changing the organism's habitat and causing them to decrease in number day by day. The ocean's surface is being exposed, causing the sunlight to be absorbed instead of being reflected since the bright surface of the sea ice reflects some sun rays. This is also affecting the planet’s sustainability. In the Antarctic, the ice covers are also being affected due to the warmer temperature. The alternating patterns in the Antarctic region are also affecting Antarctica as a whole. Antarctica has lost more than three trillion tonnes of ice. Parts of the ice cover float in place all over the region; their indirect collapse plays a role in the sea level rise. Also, glaciers move faster towards the southern ocean when an ice cover vanishes. The impact on the marine ecosystem in the Southern Ocean is being largely felt. Due to the melting sea ice and warmer oceans, it is predicted that Antarctic krill will lose up to 80 percent of their habitat by 2100. On top of that, the Adele penguins are abandoning the Antarctic Peninsula because less sea ice remains (they moved south for colder areas). The Emperor penguins there are declining at a fast rate already and are considered nearly 98 percent at risk of disappearing by the year 2100 unless we take action.

Rainforests
Rainforests are crucial to maintaining biodiversity since they are complex. As we know, rainforests are areas that contain lots of tall trees and lots of rainfall. They are known to be Earth's oldest living ecosystem and are found everywhere except Antarctica. They are important in regulating the Earth’s water and oxygen cycles. As well as being home to thousands of organisms and animals when they only cover 6 percent of the Earth's surface. Before technological development, they made up 14 percent of the planet. There are two types of rainforest: tropical, which is located near the equator and is found in Central and South America; and temperate rainforest, which is located in coastal mountain regions found on the coasts of the Pacific Northwest in North America. Rainforests have a noticeable structure, starting with the emergent layer up top (tall trees and few leaves), canopy layer (dense leaf layer blocking sunlight and rain), understory layer (dark layer with smaller plants and larger leaves), and forest floor (darkest layer where decomposition occurs).

Rainforests are being impacted by climate change because of the increase in temperature and warmer climate. The higher temperature stresses out the animals and plants. The species in tropical rainforests can disturb their ecological balances and interactions due to increased temperatures. The increased temperatures and drier conditions make rainforests more prone to wildfires. These fires can destroy the homes of species and make climate change a bigger problem since trees put stored carbon dioxide back into the air. They are expected to lose 5 to 10 percent of their species every 10 years because of climate change and human activities such as cutting down trees to use the wood for pulp and buildings. If this keeps happening, we will lose all species, destroy equilibrium, and destroy our planet as a whole.

Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse underwater ecosystems in the world. They are home to 4,000 marine species. They only cover 1 percent of the world’s oceans but provide habitat to at least 25% of underwater species. They are currently endangered species that are at risk of extinction.

Coral reefs are also important to humans and contribute to many;

• Food Source: Provides food for coastal communities
• Economic Support: commercial and recreational fisheries as well as business and jobs
• Medical Potential: Key to Finding New Medicines and Curing Diseases
• Protection: Prevent the loss of life and property by acting as a natural barrier against waves, storms, and floods.
• Cultural Value: Important to cultural beliefs and celebrating traditions

Warmer ocean temperatures have been the main cause of the burning of fossil fuels ever since the 1970s. On account of this, corals turn white due to the stress of their changed habitat, and when they are in this stage, it signifies that a coral is in a dying state. Traditionally, they have about 20 years to recover from their nerve-wracking period due to diseases, storms, or heat waves, but climate change is making it significantly harder for them. Additionally, this results in a loss of habitat for those species that rely on coral reefs. The ocean acts like a paper towel or sponge and helps to soak up carbon dioxide (C02) for the atmosphere, but unfortunately, the rapid increase of carbon dioxide (C02) is making the ocean acidic at a really fast rate compared to 300 million years ago. This is not the only factor that plays a role in the endangerment of coral reefs. Another one is pollution (the littering of harmful substances). Throwing garbage into the oceans, chemicals, and other toxins can alter the development and ecological succession of coral reefs. But the good part is that some coral reefs are becoming used to the changing environment and are adjusting.

Closing and Solutions
In conclusion, climate change threatens ecosystems worldwide, with human activities being the major cause. Burning fossil fuels, cutting down trees, and using transportation release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, resulting in an increase in global warming and temperatures. This negatively affects ecosystems such as polar regions, rainforests, and coral reefs. One thing in common between all of these ecosystems is that warmer temperatures are the main reason the area and the species there are declining at a fast rate. Since we're the ones destroying the things that help with the betterment of our environment, we should be the first ones to take steps to restore the planet and make the earth safe for everyone.

Things humans can do:

• Transportation: Using fewer cars and buses will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is good for the planet and humans as well. Walking or biking to your destination is good for your heart health, and you exercise your body and stay fit and healthy.
• Recycle: recycling plastic water bottles, cans, and glass can result in a decrease in pollution and an overall increase in receiving habitats. Not only that, but it also saves energy and comes in handy when making new products.
• Volunteer: Volunteering can help maintain the planet's sustainability by reducing waste and restoring habitats in bad conditions.
• Deforestation: saying no to cutting trees down and planting trees can help a lot. Since trees intake carbon dioxide (C02) and release oxygen, This is better for the planet as a whole, for humans, species, and areas all around the globe.

These are only a few things we can do to improve our planet. Just remember that every step you take is worth it and valuable in building up towards enhancing our environment.


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