Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
or parasites. Global climate change may be advantageous for
the establishment of some invasive species as they find the cli-
mate suitable for their survival.
Alterations in phenology
Phenology is the study of the timing
or seasonality of behaviour. The timing of phonological events
such as flowering is greatly dependent on environmental vari-
ables such as temperature. Climate change has a drastic impact
on the phenology of several life events leading to change in
asynchrony between species or change in competition between
plants. For example, flowering times of British plants have been
changed, leading to annual plants flowering earlier than perenni-
als and insect-pollinated plants flowering earlier than wind-polli-
nated plants, with potential ecological consequences. Earthwatch
research on pollination ecology in the Colorado Rocky Mountains,
United States, found that snow melt determines the flowering time
for the plant, which is ultimately influenced by climate change.
According to this research, lower altitudes are affected differently
than higher altitudes. So, it is expected for animals exposed to
earlier warm weather to exit hibernation earlier.
Precipitation and evaporation pattern
Climate change has
a hazardous impact on the pattern of precipitation and evapo-
ration. An increase has been observed in rainfall variability
and dry-season severity. Riverine and valley ecosystems will
face heavy flood whereas drought and desertification may be
prevalent in the tropical and subtropical zones. Earthwatch
scientist Dr. Patricia Wright conducted a study in Madagascar
to demonstrate the effect of climate change on the reproduc-
tive success of the endangered Milne-Edward's Sifaka lemur
(
Propithecus edwardsi
). The specificity of Sifaka lemur's
reproductive system is that, older female Sifakas reproduce
readily, but their infants survive only when there is adequate
rain during lactation. The logic behind this is, Sifaka milk
production relies on large quantities of water and nutrients
drawn from their leaf food. During drier days, old Sifakas
with worn teeth find it difficult to chew enough leaves to pro-
duce adequate amount of milk for their infants. As a result
of this, mortality rate of the infant is raised. This is a strange
fact that a little change in climate can impact infant survival
so drastically.
Impact on agricultural ecosystem
Climate change has an
extensive impact on agricultural ecosystems. Agricultural crops
will be more exposed to the climatic stresses caused by extreme
