How do climate change and habitat fragmentation affect
biodiversity?
Climate change and habitat fragmentation are the two major factors that impact the
biodiversity of the planet. Climate change refers to the long-term alteration of global
weather patterns, including rainfall, temperature, and wind patterns, due to human
activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Habitat fragmentation,
on the other hand, refers to the division of large and continuous habitats into smaller
and more isolated ones, resulting in habitat loss and population isolation.
Climate change has direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity, including changes in
distribution range, species extinction, and alteration of plant-pollinator relationships.
The increase in temperature has led to the loss of glaciers and sea ice, causing the
decline of polar bear populations. Additionally, habitat ranges of animals require
seasonal shifts or altitudinal movements, and increasing temperatures have
impacted migration patterns. The rise in ocean temperature and the increase in
carbon dioxide levels have also led to the decline of shellfish, crustaceans, and other
species in marine ecosystems.
Habitat fragmentation can also lead to species decline and extinction. Isolated
populations of plants and animals have higher chances of genetic drift, inbreeding
that causes incoherent genetic diversity, vulnerability to catastrophic events, and
diseases. Such isolated populations are at risk of rehabilitation or relocation,
resulting in the loss of significant genetic diversity.
In addition, habitat fragmentation may cause limited resources such as food and
water, minimum biodiversity, increased sensitivity to environmental stressors, and
reduced connectivity of populations, leading to the loss of genetic diversity.
In conclusion, climate change and habitat fragmentation have severe impacts on
biodiversity worldwide. To protect biodiversity, mitigation of both factors requires
conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental policies with significant
behavioral changes towards more sustainable lifestyles.
References:
1. Dirzo, R., Young, H.S., Galetti, M., Ceballos, G., Isaac, N.J.B., and Collen, B. (2014).
Defaunation in the Anthropocene. Science, 345(6195), 401-406.
2. Fahrig, L. (2003). Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Biodiversity. Annual Review of
Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 34, 487-515.
3. Parmesan, C. (2006). Ecological and Evolutionary Responses to Recent Climate Change.
Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 37, 637-669.