Specialists warn about the devastating effect climate change has on biodiversity

May 13, 2013 09:08 GMT  ·  By
Climate change has a devastating impact on plant and animal species worldwide, specialists say
   Climate change has a devastating impact on plant and animal species worldwide, specialists say

A team of researchers writing in May 12's issue of the scientific journal Nature Climate Change detail how climate change and global warming will impact on global biodiversity by the end of this century.

These specialists warn that, as far as they can tell, the environmental and weather changes set to take place in the years to come will affect over half of the plants now growing in various parts of the world.

By the looks of it, nearly a third of all common animal species will also be harmed.

The researchers explain that all these plants and animal species are to experience a dramatic loss in their overall population as a result of their being left without about 50% of their climatic range.

“Our research predicts that climate change will greatly reduce the diversity of even very common species found in most parts of the world. This loss of global-scale biodiversity would significantly impoverish the biosphere and the ecosystem services it provides,” study leader Dr. Rachel Warren explained.

“There will also be a knock-on effect for humans because these species are important for things like water and air purification, flood control, nutrient cycling, and eco-tourism,” said specialist further argued.

The official website for the University of East Anglia says that, all things considered, the regions bound to be the most affected by this loss of biodiversity are Sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, Amazonia and Australia.

Other geographical areas expected to experience a dramatic loss of biodiversity are North America, Central Asia and South-Eastern Europe.

Although nearly all plant species run similar risks when it comes to their declining because of climate change and global warming, it appears that reptiles and amphibians are the animals prone to be hit the hardest.

“The good news is that our research provides crucial new evidence of how swift action to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gases can prevent the biodiversity loss by reducing the amount of global warming to 2 degrees Celsius rather than 4 degrees.”

“This would also buy time – up to four decades – for plants and animals to adapt to the remaining 2 degrees of climate change,” Dr. Rachel Warren wished to emphasize.