Climate Change and Its Impact on Biological Diversity

Abstract

Climate change is one of the major environmental pressures affecting biological diversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, changing seasonality, ocean warming, sea-level rise, and increasing frequency or intensity of some extreme events can modify habitats and ecological relationships. Species may respond through range shifts, changes in seasonal timing, behavioral adjustments, acclimation, and evolutionary adaptation, but the speed and magnitude of environmental change can exceed the capacity of some populations to respond. Climate change can also interact with habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, and other pressures, increasing risks to biodiversity. This paper examines nine major dimensions of climate change and biological diversity, including physiological responses, range shifts, phenology, marine ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems, genetic adaptation, extreme events, ecosystem services, and conservation strategies.