How does climate change affect global biodiversity in 2024?.

Climate change is profoundly affecting global biodiversity through several mechanisms:

Key Facts

• Habitat Loss: Rising temperatures and shifting climate zones lead to habitat degradation.
• Species Extinction: According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), over 1 million species face extinction due to climate change impacts.
• Ecosystem Services: Changes in biodiversity affect ecosystems' ability to provide services like pollination and water purification.
• Migration Patterns: Many species are shifting their ranges toward cooler areas, disrupting existing ecosystems.

Examples or Use Cases

• Coral Reefs: Rising ocean temperatures and acidification lead to coral bleaching, significantly harming marine biodiversity.
• Forests: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns affect tree species distributions, leading to altered forest compositions.

FAQs

1. What is biodiversity? Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
2. How does climate change cause species extinction? Climate change alters habitats and food availability, making survival difficult for many species.