8 Major Threats to Biodiversity and Ecosystem

3. Climate changes

Due to greenhouse effect it is expected that by 2100 temperature will rise by 6 degrees Celsius. Among many things, global warming has caused ice thickening and melting on Arctic, which is a natural habitat for a wide range of species (polar bears, penguins, puffins). Temperature increase, coupled with ice melting, also leads to the rise of the sea levels. With sea level increase of 3.1 mm per year, the planet will face flooding and other calamities which will endanger the survival of many species – especially those inhabiting oceans and coastlines. In the future world will also face droughts and heat waves, and it is very unlikely that all species will successfully adapt to such rapid change. As a matter of fact, it is estimated that climate change will threaten with extinction one-quarter or more of all species by 2050.

However, we don’t have to wait until 2050 to see devastating effects of global warming – example of coral bleaching illustrates how temperatures rise can affect species. Coral survival depends on algae that live in their tissues. These algae provide food to coral. When sea temperature rises, coral become stressed out and they eject algae which is why they turn white. Without algae, coral die and this has a cascade effect on the entire ecosystem since coral shelter is 25 percent of marine species.