Influences of Climate Change and Variability on Estuarine Ecosystems: An Impact Study in Selected European, South American and Asian Countries

It is well-known that climate change significantly impacts ecosystems (at the macro-level) and individual species (at the micro-level). Among the former, estuaries are the most vulnerable and affected ecosystems. However, despite the strong relations between climate change and estuaries, there is a gap in the literature regarding international studies across different regions investigating the impacts of climate change and variability on estuaries in different geographical zones. This paper addresses this need and reviews the impacts of climate change, variability and extreme weather on estuaries. It emphasises the following: (i) a set of climate parameters governing estuarine hydrology and processes; and (ii) a sample of countries in Asia (Bangladesh), Europe (Portugal) and South America (Uruguay). We reviewed the influences of the climatic drivers of the estuarine hydrology, ecological processes and specific species in estuarine communities across the selected geographical regions, along with an analysis of their long-term implications. The key results from the three estuaries are as following: (i) Hilsa fish, of which the catches contribute to 10% of the total earnings of the fishery sector (1% of GDP), are affected by climate-forced hydrological and productivity changes in the Meghna; (ii) extreme droughts and short-term severe precipitation have driven the long-term abundance and spatial distribution of both fish larvae and juveniles/adults in the Mondego; and (iii) the river inflow and fluctuations increases since the early 1970s have contributed to variations in the salinity, the stratification, the oxygen, nutrient and trophic levels and the spatial pattern for the life stages of planktonic species, fish biomass and captures in the Rio de la Plata. The results suggested that immediate action is needed to reduce the vulnerability of estuaries to climate stressors, mainly the changing river flows, storms and sea-level rise. As a contribution to addressing current problems, we described a set of adaptation strategies to foster climate resilience and adaptive capacity (e.g., early-warning systems, dam management to prevent overflows and adaptive fisheries management). The implications of this paper are two-fold. Firstly, it showcases a variety of problems that estuaries face from changing climate conditions. Secondly, the paper outlines the need for suitable adaptive management strategies to safeguard the integrity of such vital ecosystems.

Download Full-text

Phenological Response in the Trophic Levels to Climate Change in Korea

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031086 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1086

Author(s):

Minkyung Kim ◽

Sojeong Lee ◽

Hakyung Lee ◽

Sangdon Lee

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Individual Species ◽

Trophic Groups ◽

Phenological Data ◽

Phenological Mismatch ◽

Phenological Shifts ◽

Primary Consumers ◽

Secondary Consumers

The response of the phenological events of individual species to climate change is not isolated, but is connected through interaction with other species at the same or adjacent trophic level. Using long-term phenological data observed since 1976 in Korea, whose temperature has risen more steeply than the average global temperature, this study conducted phenological analysis (differ-ences in the phenology of groups, differences in phenological shifts due to climate change, differ-ences in phenological sensitivity to climate by groups, and the change of phenological day differ-ences among interacting groups). The phenological shift of the producer group (plants) was found to be negative in all researched species, which means that it blooms quickly over the years. The regression slope of consumers (primary consumers and secondary consumers) was generally posi-tive which means that the phenological events of these species tended to be later during the study period. The inter-regional deviation of phenological events was not large for any plant except for plum tree and Black locust. In addition, regional variations in high trophic levels of secondary consumers tended to be greater than that of producers and primary consumers. Among the studied species, plum was the most sensitive to temperature, and when the temperature rose by 1 °C, the flowering time of plum decreased by 7.20 days. As a result of checking the day differences in the phenological events of the interacting species, the phenological events of species were reversed, and butterflies have appeared earlier than plum, Korean forsythia, and Korean rosebay since 1990. Using long-term data from Korea, this study investigated differences in phenological reactions among trophic groups. There is a possibility of a phenological mismatch between trophic groups in the future if global warming continues due to differences in sensitivity to climate and phenological shifts between trophic levels.

Download Full-text

Impacts of climate change and variability on cattle production in southern Ethiopia: Perceptions and empirical evidence

Agricultural Systems ◽

10.1016/j.agsy.2014.06.002 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 130 ◽

pp. 23-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Bekele Megersa ◽

André Markemann ◽

Ayana Angassa ◽

Joseph O. Ogutu ◽

Hans-Peter Piepho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Empirical Evidence ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Cattle Production ◽

Climate Change And Variability ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Download Full-text

Predator–prey interactions and climate change

Effects of Climate Change on Birds ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198824268.003.0015 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 199-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vincent Bretagnolle ◽

Julien Terraube

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Species Interactions ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Trophic Levels ◽

Generalist Predators ◽

Top Down ◽

Predator Prey ◽

Key Topics ◽

Available Information

Climate change is likely to impact all trophic levels, although the response of communities and ecosystems to it has only recently received considerable attention. Further, it is expected to affect the magnitude of species interactions themselves. In this chapter, we summarize why and how climate change could affect predator–prey interactions, then review the literature about its impact on predator–prey relationships in birds, and provide prospects for future studies. Expected effects on prey or predators may include changes in the following: distribution, phenology, population density, behaviour, morphology, or physiology. We review the currently available information concerning particular key topics: top-down versus bottom-up control, specialist versus generalist predators, functional versus numerical responses, trophic cascades and regime shifts, and lastly adaptation and selection. Finally, we focus our review on two well-studied bird examples: seabirds and raptors. Key future topics include long-term studies, modelling and experimental studies, evolutionary questions, and conservation issues.

Download Full-text