Climate change is a threat to biodiversity
Climate change is considered to be one of the greatest environmental, economic and social threats to the planet and the humanity existing today.
They are also a recurring topic in the news, on the Internet and in newspapers. It is common knowledge that climate change has been a major threat to the environment: increasing temperature and the problems this entails cause habitat destruction and the consequent extinction of certain species.
We interviewed Diogo Alagador, of CIBIO-INBIO - University of Évora, and questioned him on the consequences of climate change on biodiversity, within the framework of the Clima@EduMedia project of the University of Porto.
Jornal JÁ (JJ) – What are the consequences of climate change on biodiversity and what is the role played by humans in a climate change scenario?
Diogo Alagador (DA) – In the last 20-30 years, science has been addressing the issue of climate change. Views on the causes of these changes are diverse. Many argue that there has always been a natural variation, which occurs every 20, 40 million years. Science says that in fact there is a natural climate variation. Nevertheless, the problem is not this climate variation, but how quickly it is occurring. In recent years, the global average temperature has risen 1 degree Celsius, a phenomenon that would normally happen in several million years. The conclusion reached was this: if this significant variation used to take place in several million years, and is now occurring in just 20 years, than surely humankind has some impact on it.
This is a given, since the humans interfere with the environment in various ways. Pollution and habitat destruction to use their raw materials are just some examples.
As to the impact this situation has on biodiversity: as we know, living beings have various ways of responding to climate change. For instance, the swallows usually migrate to warmer areas during the winter, but now, with increasing temperature, they return earlier than usual. This is because the species tend to come out of warmer areas to cooler ones. Even certain plants are able to disperse their seeds and “migrate” to more appropriate areas.
However, certain species are unable to change their habits and eventually become extinct, first locally, and then more widely.
JJ – What species are more likely to become extinct due to climate change?
DA – This situation depends on several factors such as the area to which we refer and its response to climate change. Therefore, certain species could go extinct in an area, but continue to exist in another.
Therefore, the species I believe that are more likely to go extinct locally are those that are unable to change their habits and their behaviour, like feeding, and those who have difficulty in moving.
For example, an animal that has to migrate through a city to a more comfortable region will face some difficulties because it will have to cross an area it is not familiarised with, an area operated by humans, with roads, houses and people.
JJ – What can we do to reverse climate change and prevent the extinction of species?
DA – Humankind’s main mission should be to reduce its environmental impact on the planet. Some measures could be taken to reduce pollution and adopt more “green” policies, to restrict the emission of greenhouse gases and the burning of fossil fuels, and also to rethink some attitudes that could easily improve the world.
Even so, the temperature would continue to increase, as it has a past “memory” that will hardly reverse. Still, this is not a reason not to strive to change our habits.
It is not up to me alone or you to change the direction we are taking, but to all humankind. We must change our way of thinking and ensure the future of the Earth.
Diogo Alagador (DA) – In the last 20-30 years, science has been addressing the issue of climate change. Views on the causes of these changes are diverse. Many argue that there has always been a natural variation, which occurs every 20, 40 million years. Science says that in fact there is a natural climate variation. Nevertheless, the problem is not this climate variation, but how quickly it is occurring. In recent years, the global average temperature has risen 1 degree Celsius, a phenomenon that would normally happen in several million years. The conclusion reached was this: if this significant variation used to take place in several million years, and is now occurring in just 20 years, than surely humankind has some impact on it.
This is a given, since the humans interfere with the environment in various ways. Pollution and habitat destruction to use their raw materials are just some examples.
As to the impact this situation has on biodiversity: as we know, living beings have various ways of responding to climate change. For instance, the swallows usually migrate to warmer areas during the winter, but now, with increasing temperature, they return earlier than usual. This is because the species tend to come out of warmer areas to cooler ones. Even certain plants are able to disperse their seeds and “migrate” to more appropriate areas.
However, certain species are unable to change their habits and eventually become extinct, first locally, and then more widely.
JJ – What species are more likely to become extinct due to climate change?
DA – This situation depends on several factors such as the area to which we refer and its response to climate change. Therefore, certain species could go extinct in an area, but continue to exist in another.
Therefore, the species I believe that are more likely to go extinct locally are those that are unable to change their habits and their behaviour, like feeding, and those who have difficulty in moving.
For example, an animal that has to migrate through a city to a more comfortable region will face some difficulties because it will have to cross an area it is not familiarised with, an area operated by humans, with roads, houses and people.
JJ – What can we do to reverse climate change and prevent the extinction of species?
DA – Humankind’s main mission should be to reduce its environmental impact on the planet. Some measures could be taken to reduce pollution and adopt more “green” policies, to restrict the emission of greenhouse gases and the burning of fossil fuels, and also to rethink some attitudes that could easily improve the world.
Even so, the temperature would continue to increase, as it has a past “memory” that will hardly reverse. Still, this is not a reason not to strive to change our habits.
It is not up to me alone or you to change the direction we are taking, but to all humankind. We must change our way of thinking and ensure the future of the Earth.
Work by: Bruno Loreto, Tiago Filipe, Sérgio Burkevych, Tiago Simões e David Gomes
9th Grade
Escola Secundária Fernando Namora (High School), Condeixa-a-Nova
This work was carried out under the Flash Seminar held on the 6th and the 22nd of May 2015 at Escola Secundária Fernando Namora (High School), in Condeixa-a-Nova. Students developed media content based on interviews with experts in various fields related to climate change and research on the subject.
9th Grade
Escola Secundária Fernando Namora (High School), Condeixa-a-Nova
This work was carried out under the Flash Seminar held on the 6th and the 22nd of May 2015 at Escola Secundária Fernando Namora (High School), in Condeixa-a-Nova. Students developed media content based on interviews with experts in various fields related to climate change and research on the subject.