The article first presents the current outlook on the region’s terrestrial biodiversity and carbon stock. The authors then move on to discuss how climate change in the region will impact these moving forward. Climate change issues discussed include sea level rise, temperature rises and increased storm severity, altered rainfall patterns and increased fire frequency. In addition to the impacts of climate change, the authors also explore the pervasive threats to biodiversity and carbon stocks and view these impacts in conjunction with climate change as well as how climate change is expected to make them worse.
After viewing the impacts of climate change and pervasive threats on biodiversity and carbon stocks, the responses to these issues
…show more content…
Conversely, the article seems to present more information on climate change. Interestingly enough, neither climate nor Oceania is listed as key words.
In the introduction, the paper clearly defines a problem and states what the research hopes to accomplish. The paper provides a scope of the existing knowledge, though it is not much in terms of the “big picture” of the region. The body of the paper delves into the information available at the scale of each country. The research aims to find out what declining biodiversity and carbon stock mean for the Oceania region as well as how can these issues be addressed.
There is no dedicated section for the method, since the article is just an amalgamation of many other papers that focus on research done on countries within the region. The closest section to resemble a methodology is the final few sentences of the introduction describe the structure of the paper. There is however, methodology presented in the appendix, though this strictly explains the steps taken in calculating the values for carbon biomass from the various papers. These methodologies varied based on the data sources for the different countries and different biomes. To provide a better understanding to the reader, some aspects of the methodology in the appendix could have been discussed in the article itself. It should also be noted that the fact that there were methodologies attached in the appendix, is only mentioned in the caption for the table.
The
Climatic changes are expected to change species distributions, phenologies, interspecific interactions, community composition, and ecosystem function (Schneider & Root 2002). Many of these impacts have already been observed (Parmesan 2006). In California’s San Joaquin Valley, temperatures are projected to be warmer in both winter and summer, with a mean annual increase of 1.4–2.0°C by 2070 (PRBO Conservation Science 2011). Additionally, precipitation is projected to decrease (-9% to -30%), although there is a high degree of uncertainty surrounding the magnitude of the precipitation changes (PRBO Conservation Science 2011). Summer heat waves are projected to become longer and hotter, and droughts more severe (Garfin et al. 2012).
The article discussed the changes in many habitats due to anthropogenic activity. Anthropogenic is an adjective that describes changes in nature due to the people. Next, this article discussed climate change and the impact that it is having on species like clams, and fish due to ocean temperatures rising. The article also addressed carbon dating of fossils to look for cause of extinctions. Human development and agriculture have had a tremendous impact on the population of many species that are terrestrial. Deforestation is a big problem that has caused a decline in the bird species. Commercial fishing in many areas has led to a decline in fish populations. Furthermore this article
Deforestation plays a big role in global warming. The “land use connection” referred to as “land use changes” is a huge contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Land use change involves all the destructions of land in order to produce and distribute food. Every year rainforests are demolished for agriculture intentions. “The biggest factors are the destruction of vital rainforests through burning and clearing and the elimination of wetlands” (Lappe 753). Deforestation of these habitats leads to the discharge carbon dioxide into the environment.
Climate change has affected us in many ways, but it was even more influential on organisms and their community. The Earth is gradually heating and we are left to deal with the consequences. Homes are being destroyed, organisms are dying, and resources are running low. Since 1880, Our Earth’s temperature had increased by about 0.8 degrees Celsius. Climate change is affecting the Earth and scientists say that one more degree will greatly affect people from all over the world. There are many consequences of climate change and each one has a great impact on all of us, but organisms’ homes are being destroyed and thousands of species are dying out. These organisms are imperative to our world and how it functions.
It has been suggested that food production has changed some biomes in Australia, from natural systems to systems completely dominated by humans.
Global climate change and variability, particularly at regional levels, are not completely understood. Therefore, there are many significant
Earth is not what it was before, it is rapidly changing due to human activity and natural causes. If humans continue these trends by harming the Earth, it would constantly affect the environment, plants, animals, the earth we live in and humanity. In this essay I will be explaining; What climate change is. How does climate change affected the biodiversity on the Great Barrier Reefs. What are some prediction for future effects of climate change. How this will impact biodiversity on the Great Barrier Reef. How it will affect other ecosystems and what locals and global consideration to reduce the impacts of climate change.
The high (A1fl) emission scenario displays results if fossil fuel dependence continues to increase. Currently, greenhouse gases are being emitted at a rate faster than the highest scenario (A1fl) predicts. Source 1 incorporates historical data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). This information assisted in the creation of future climate change projections for Queensland which were prepared by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The document also uses information reinforced by reliable sources such as the Department of Infrastructure of Natural Resources & Mines and Queensland Regional Profiles. These references are current as of 2004-2009. Climate is the long term average of weather conditions. Climate is generally recorded, updated and averaged every 30 years. Climate change is a change in global or regional climate patterns largely attributed to by increased levels of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. Source 1 defines climate change as an event that has reached the limits of natural variability. The document doesn’t explain how climate change happens or how it can be changed. It briefly explains the advantages of reducing fossil fuel use. Source 1 does – however – give an in depth overview of the impact of climate change for the future. The creation of “Climate change in the South East Queensland Region” relied on the use of; historical data records, tables and graphs, the IPCC emission
Rainforests are one of the most crucial fundamentals to the preservation of human and other animal life. Globally, they are endangered and are continuously at the threat of being eradicated or damaged beyond restoration. Rainforests in Australia are just one of the countless countries with declining numbers of rainforests. Directing to significant environmental damage. This document will investigate into the endangerment of the Tasmanian rainforest. The document will achieve this through the study of Tasmanian rainforest history, the problems and causes of the rainforest deterioration, and solutions to prevent further damage.
The environment around us carries the scar caused by global warming. Precipitation has increased across the globe, which has consequently caused more frequent floods, an increase in sea levels, and a higher frequency of strong storms. Lakes are drying up, islands are virtually dropping into the ocean, and the polar ice caps are disappearing. The planet is truly in peril. This paper will focus on three regions of the Earth in particular: Antarctica, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Great Barrier Reef. More specifically, it will examine the extent of the impact that global warming has had on each region..
Climate change otherwise known as global warming has been an ongoing issue for decades. Beginning in the 19th century, climate change has increasingly affected Earth and its atmosphere. Rising levels of carbon dioxide are warming the Earth’s atmosphere, causing rising sea-levels, melting snow and ice, extreme fires and droughts, and intense rainfall and floods. Climate change has and will continue to affect food production, availability of water, and can add to many health risks in humans and animals. In fact, in an article by Justin Gillis titled, “Scientists Warn of Perilous Climate Shift Within Decades, Not Centuries” he focuses on a paper written by a former NASA climate scientist, James E. Hansen, explaining the effects of climate change on Earth today. Although many believe Hansen’s theories in the paper are quite far-fetched, the author mentions, “Despite any reservations they might have about the new paper, virtually all climate scientists agree with Dr. Hansen’s group that society is not moving fast enough to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, posing grave risks” (Gillis). Gillis validates the fact that climate change has been rapidly expanding throughout Earth and society has not been able to reduce it fast enough. Many negative risks are being posed and will continue to mount if the issue of climate change is not taken seriously. Although climate change negatively affects nearly all aspects of Earth, it poses a big
Climate change is one of the major issues surfacing earth over the past century. The earth’s temperature has increased over the years leading to detrimental effects on the economic and life sources of people, especially that of agricultural production and livestock. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary (2014), defined climate change as a change in global climate patterns apparent from the mid late 20th century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, (2007) predicts that by 2100 the increase in global average surface temperature may be between 1.8° C and 4.0° C. With increases of 1.5° C to 2.5° C, approximately 20 to 30 percent of plant and animal species are expected to be at risk of extinction. Moreover, the IPCC (2007)
Shifts in temperature and precipitation will be a shock to fragile ecosystems which depend on specific climatic conditions. Many species will be unable to adapt as fast as their environment changes and face sharply reduced numbers or extinction. Scientists estimate that a warming of just 2 degree will put as many as 30% of the world's species at risk of extinction. Plants and animals aren’t the only ones feeling the pressure of changing ecosystems. Many regions will face severe water shortages in a warmer world, creating the potential for conflict. It is believed that the genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region is at least in part a response to water shortages resulting from global warming.
Climate change has been heavily debated amongst scientists; many agree that since the rise of Modernism, anthropogenic activities have resulted in the accumulation of atmospheric CO2, therefore magnifying the greenhouse effect and causing climate change to become a more prevalent issue (Capstick, S. et al, 2015). Conversely some scientists argue that global warming is a natural fluctuation similar to that of the Ice Age, therefore not effecting ecology permanently (Moran, JM 2016). On the other hand, Montoya and Raffaelli (2011) argue that climate change is a major threat to biodiversity and presents information proving that several species are declining in numbers and being forced to move due to the temperatures, acidity and light exposure moving out of their tolerance ranges. This evidence proves that climate change is adversely effecting flora and fauna species as well as changing abiotic factors such as temperature and sea levels. Through this it is clear that climate change is not a hypothesis, but a serious threat that is threatening several biological systems.
The health of the earth degrades with the destructive activity of human beings. A recent study by a group of scientists looked at twenty four different services that the earth’s ecosystems provide for humans, ecosystem services, and found that fifteen of them are in need of desperate help (Gazette 31 March 2005). These services are vital to the survival of both human and nonhuman life and include filtering water and providing nutrient rich soils and ocean waters. Many of the members of these various ecosystems are also decreasing in numbers. In a British survey of bird populations found that in the 200 birds of Britain tracked there was about a 54% population decrease between the 1968-1971 tacking period and the 1988-1991 tacking period. In two other surveys of 254 native plant species from the same area there was a decrease of about 28% during the past 40 years. Humans are pushing the sixth mass extinction (Gazette March 19, 2004).