Climate change has invaded every aspect of life on earth and its long arm has not spared anything, ranging from genes to ecosystems.
Such changes are triggering bigger consequences in human life. The most conspicuous factor is the struggle in adapting to the rising temperature with most organisms undergoing changes in managing it.
Published in the journal Science, the study, “The broad footprint of climate change from genes to biomes to people” narrates wide-ranging signs of distress incurred by climate change. It says the bulk of the processes in marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems have been hit hard.
Noting that the effects of climate change have increased average global temperature by 1 degree Celsius beyond the preindustrial levels, the study calls for more attention to individual areas, unlike early studies that documented species-specific individual impacts handed down by the changing climate.
The study documents some of the manifestations of climate change such as the brunt of pests and disease outbreaks, declining productivity of fisheries and depleting yields in agriculture.
“There is now clear evidence that, with only a ~1oC of warming globally, very major impacts are already being felt,” noted Brett Scheffers, the lead author of the study and a conservation ecologist at the University of Florida.
During the study, Scheffers collaborated with researchers from 10 different countries.
Genes Affected By Climate Change
The signs of stress from climate change have affected genes and physiology of many species with their physical features including body sizes changing. This is most remarkable in fisheries.
Noting tangible proof of evolutionary adaptation in coping with temperature extremes, the research paper talks about substantial impacts on species’ physiology including decreasing tolerances to high temperatures and changes in sex ratios.
Senior author James Watson of the University of Queensland calls the change as “quite astonishing.”
Professor John Pandolfi at Australia’s ARC Centre of Excellence says there is special concern about fisheries because that is responsible for 17 percent of global protein consumption.
-Awareness Of Climate Change Impacts-
Regarding the steps that can be taken to arrest the effects of climate change, the study seeks better awareness for addressing the impacts on core ecological processes.
The first defensive step must be an adaptation mechanism so that adverse influence on biodiversity and ecosystem can be minimised.
Amid the gloomy scenario, the study says there is still hope left if responses in nature are rechanneled for tackling the vagaries of changing climate.
Improved understanding of the adaptive capacity in wildlife can be used for protecting crops, livestock and fisheries.
In agriculture, wheat and barley are domesticated crops. They can be crossed with wild varieties to maintain the evolutionary strength to withstand the rigors of climate change.
