The natural plant and animal populations in Australia and throughout the world might be affected in a variety of ways by climate change. Climate change, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is "a change in the condition of the climate that may be recognized by variations in the mean or variability of the it’s characteristics or properties that last for a lengthy period of time generally decades or longer time frame” (IPCC, 2021). Australia is already experiencing the effects of climate change along with other nations, and these effects are expected to continue and worsen. The main cause of these shifts is the human-caused production of greenhouse gases. Since the Industrialization, widespread usage of fossil fuels has led to the release of too many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, amplifying the greenhouse effect and hastening global warming. The green sea turtle as well as mangrove communities are two examples of Australian communities of flora and fauna that are sensitive to climate change. In a worldwide perspective, examples include polar bears and the alpine vegetation in the European Alps (IPCC, 2021). Overall, the wellbeing of people, public safety, economic activity, along with the sustainability of natural ecosystems is all seriously threatened by global warming in Australia. The probable effects of climate change on plant and animal populations in Australia and throughout the world will be covered in this article. This article will largely focus on tropical montane ecosystems with sporadic references to other habitats in order to offer some emphasis in what is otherwise a wide and comprehensive area. The importance of plant and animal diversity for all life forms and the immediate need to reduce climate change and lessen its consequences on that diversity should therefore be reiterated in any conclusion to this discussion.
Due to its size and geographic location, Australia's eight states and territories experience a broad range of weather. More than 2⸰C of rapid climate change might be regarded as harmful. Global greenhouse gas emissions must reach their peak within the next several decades if this is to be averted. Even if emissions of greenhouse gas suddenly fell to zero, the Earth would still be on track to warm by about 0.4⸰C by 2050. The gases formed by burning fossil fuels including gas, coal, as well as oil envelop the Earth and trap heat. More intense and unpredictable weather is produced by this heat. Heat waves are occurring more frequently and with greater ferocity (Beeson, 2013). Climate change is causing Australia to experience more severe droughts, greater temperatures, fire seasons, floods, and other extreme weather. Rising sea levels make high-sea occurrences more intense and endanger infrastructure and houses. In certain regions of the continent, higher temperatures result in longer droughts, whereas higher evaporation causes stronger rainstorms in other locations. Marine heat waves are becoming more frequent, destroying Australia's coral reefs, sea grass beds, and the entire aquatic ecosystem is dependent on them. On the Great Barrier Reef, coral bleaching has become more frequent and severe. Oceans and seas have gotten more acidic as a result of the oceans absorbing extra carbon from the atmosphere in addition to heat. The ability of crustaceans, coralline algae, and hard corals to extract calcium carbonate from the water, develop, and reinforce their skeletons is decreased by this acidity (Hughes, 2011).
There are several forecasts that the future effects of climate change on plant and animal populations would be detrimental. The rapid pace of temperature change may make it impossible for many species to adapt and survive. Polar and coastal communities, alpine vegetation, remaining vegetation, heritage places, and reserves are among the species and ecosystems that are particularly susceptible to a warming climate. Furthermore the potential climate change impact affecting the communities of plants and animals in Australia and throughout the world will be discussed (DCCEEW, 2022).
Over the previous century, Australia's climate has risen by around 1 degree, with most of the warming occurring after 1950. The extreme and average temperatures of Australia will continue to rise, as per the Bureau of Meteorology (2018). Due to stronger storms, greater water temperatures, rising sea levels, as well as ocean acidification, Australia will face longer droughts, heat waves, and more flooding incidents. Australia used to be known for its unusual vegetation and animals. There are more than 80% of mammals that are unique to that area. Nearly all Australian amphibians, reptiles, freshwater fish, and half of the country's bird species are native only to that continent. Here, animal and plant life developed apart from that of the rest of the universe for millions of years. And all of this is something that we might lose gradually in the not-too-distant future. According to a recent state of the environment study that the government commissioned, years of negligence have caused Australia's ecosystem to quickly deteriorate over the past five years (Beggs, 2021).
According to the research, the environment has seen abrupt changes as a result of climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, and mining. And since the Australian government lacks the infrastructure and resources necessary to fully address this issue, the future is unlikely to be better. The following are some of the report's more concerning findings: More than 100 Australian species have been listed as extinct or extinct in the wild, more foreign invasive plant species are present in Australia than native ones, and 202 animal and plant species have been listed as "threatened" in just the past five years, more than any other continent in the world. 21 vulnerable species were able to survive longer because to government efforts, while many more did not. Additionally, not all of the effects of the severe bush fires in 2019–20 were taken into consideration. It's estimated that between one and three billion animals died as a result of those occurrences. The conclusions could be grimmer once that picture is clearer (Smith, 2021).
As rivers and watershed areas dry up, the water habitat also suffers. The native fish populations have been declining as a result of drought and water extraction. The health of coral reefs and the species that depends on them is decreasing due to ocean acidification and marine heatwaves. According to a government research, drought, bush fires, global warming, and habitat degradation are wreaking havoc on Australia's distinctive fauna. It issued a warning that additional species would soon become extinct. For a long time, the primary dangers to Australia's wildlife were recognized and comprehended: fragmentation, and habitat loss strays like foxes and cats, or improper fire management, particularly in northern Australia. The effects of climate change have always been a concern, but they were something that would need to be dealt with in 10, 20, or even 50 years. However, the most recent Australian summer has demonstrated that climate change is real and that it is already having a significant negative impact on our valuable biodiversity. We must stop considering climate change as a problem that only the future generation will have to cope with (IPCC, 2021).
In February, the status of koalas in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland was changed from "vulnerable" to "endangered." Due to disease and habitat loss, koala populations were dropping in those states, which were exacerbated by the 2019–2020 wildfires. According to conservation organizations’, the flames killed, hurt, or somehow harmed 60,000 koalas. Along with the black and pink gang gang cockatoo, the larger glider, which represents a flying squirrel and was once widespread in national parks, has also been added to the list of endangered species. The research stated that "Climate change is becoming a new driver for species loss and habitat change, as it manifests itself in increasingly severe drought, severe storms, fire, and habitat modification”.
Mangroves are intertidal plant communities that are tropical or subtropical and largely comprise tree species. Important coastal ecosystems, these tidal forests are valued for a range of societal and ecological products as well as services. Trimming and Clear-cutting of forests for agricultural, urban, or industrial expansion, toxic chemical spills, hydrological changes, and eutrophication are some of the primary local threats to mangrove ecosystems around the world. Many of the people who live in countries with mangroves do so in the coastal area, where their activities frequently have a detrimental effect on the health of the mangrove forests. Many of the people who live in countries with mangroves do so in the coastal area, where their activities frequently have a detrimental effect on the health of the mangrove forests. A further danger to mangroves and allied ecosystems like coral reefs is eutrophication, which is the process by which nutrients accumulate to higher than usual levels in a natural system. At the National Wetlands Research Centre, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers are trying to better understand the global implications on these important ecosystems (Friess, 2022).
Mangroves may also be impacted by climatic changes and other variables, but in subtler ways. Through the melting of polar ice or the steric expansion of the oceans, global warming may encourage the development of mangrove forests to high altitudes as well as hasten the increase in sea level. Sea level changes would affect mangrove structure and acreage, as well as patterns of flooding. The mangroves of Australia are widespread along the country's coastline, with concentrations in its northern and eastern parts, and they serve as crucial habitats for fish, birds, and crustaceans. In the intertidal zone, where mangroves grow, the environment is continuously changing. Climate change is anticipated to have an impact on the distribution and abundance of mangrove species due to rising sea levels, greater danger of flooding and storm surges, increased erosion, higher water temperature, and high salinity (McKee, 2014).
Northern Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria experienced a widespread loss of mangrove communities in late 2015. Drought, excessive salinity, and high-water temperatures are thought to be the causes. Sea level rise is the part of climate change that will most likely have an influence on mangroves. Possible adaptations to climate change have been seen in south-eastern Australia, where mangrove distribution has shifted southward to higher latitudes, the phenology has changed, and structures have grown taller and stronger. The figure below shows the state of the mangroves in different parts of Victoria, Australia. This data implies that, under specific conditions, mangroves might be able to adapt to climate change in the future. While it has been noted that mangroves are disappearing due to climate change, there is a chance that in the right circumstances, like in south-eastern Australia, mangroves could adapt to a warmer environment (Field, 2022).
Koalas have undoubtedly suffered as a result of the fires raging through eastern Australia. What the future holds for a species that was already in danger before this cycle of bush fires is uncertain as vast portions of its vital habitat have been destroyed. Some wild koalas who were burned and dehydrated have been saved. Furthermore, it is difficult to estimate the death toll when fires are still burning. Over the weekend, the term "functionally extinct" circulated in news articles and on social media. The phrase describes a species that has either completely disappeared from an ecosystem or is on the verge of extinction. Koalas might become extinct. The koala population is falling and vulnerable, but it is not endangered, according to the Red List, maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (Fortin, 2019).
It has been difficult to estimate the number of koalas, which could be in the hundreds of thousands. Every region is unique, and estimates vary greatly. According to biologists, koala populations have decreased by as much as 80% in some areas. According to Noah Greenwald, the Centre for Biological Diversity's director for endangered species, there may have been as many as 300,000 koalas in Australia in 2016. Koalas have adapted to coexist with wildfires, but the animals are now threatened by both climate change and human development, which has displaced local populations and reduced the animals' capacity to withstand flames (Times, 2022).
Koalas "may be functionally extinct throughout the entire terrain of Australia," according to the Brisbane-based foundation, which is a non-profit conservation organisation. The group estimated that there were only 80,000 koalas left in the nation, according to the statement (Wstcott, 2021).
A study found that since 1995, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia has lost more than half of its corals due to warmer oceans caused by climate change. Researchers discovered that all varieties of corals had declined over the world's leading reef system. Following massive occurrences in 2016 and 2017, the drops were at their sharpest. In 2020, mass bleaching was more pronounced. The experts emphasised to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
These coral varieties had been "most hit," according to Prof. Terry Hughes, a research co-author, by the back-to-back major bleachings that ruined two-thirds of the reef. When corals are stressed, they expel the colour-giving zooxanthellae algae, which cause bleaching. If normal conditions return, corals can recover, but it may take decades. According to a 2019 study, the majority of the adult corals in injured coral colonies had died, making it difficult for them to rebuild. The reef, which stretches for more than 2,300km (1,400 miles), was named a World Heritage site in 1981 because to its "enormous scientific and intrinsic importance."
However, warmer oceans dispersed other sea life which have killed off coral, and accelerated the spread of algae along with other toxins, have significantly impacted it over the past ten years in particular. Scientists announced in March that the reef has seen its third mass bleaching episode in the previous five years. The extent of the harm was still being determined. Since pre-industrial times, global temperatures have already increased by around 1C. The UN has issued a warning that 90% of the world's corals will perish if that warming hits 1.5C. Every five years, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is required by Australian law to publish a report on the condition of the World Heritage site (Dietzel, 2020).
The reef was described as being "a choice must be made between a bright, well-managed future and one that is less guaranteed." in the first assessment from 2009 by scientists. According to the second study from 2014, it is "an icon under pressure" and has to make steps to combat serious dangers. The paper states that "threats to the reef are numerous, cumulative, and intensifying." "Now is the time to make improvements to the Reef's long-term future." According to scientists, recent bleaching events, which devastated a 1,500 km stretch of the reef, caused an 89 percent decline in the quantity of young corals. In 2019, Australia committed a $500 million (£276 million) to preserving the reef (BBC, 2019).
The sand’s temperature where sea turtle eggs are being incubated determines the sex of the turtle. Females are produced at temperatures of at least 29.1 degrees Celsius, while males are produced at lower temperatures. The natural gender ratio is disrupted by rising temperatures brought on by climate change, which increases the birth rate of females. In the near future, it's feasible that the sea turtle population will only consist of females. The survival of numerous species of marine turtles is gravely threatened by this. Without males, the species cannot reproduce, and the combination of this with additional problems such as fishing bycatch, poaching, as well as loss of habitat, which means Australia, is at risk of losing these majestic mariners forever. Only a small part of green sea turtles are recently found in South Australia and New South Wales. Green sea turtles are primarily found in Australian waters, off the coasts of the Northern Territory, Queensland, as well as Western Australia.
The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999 (EPBC Act) provides protection for green turtles because they are considered endangered. Predicted increases in water and sand temperature, rising sea levels, and an increase in severe storm frequency will have an effect on green turtle populations. Due to the loss of coral and sea grass, as well as the time of mating, variations in water temperature may have an effect on turtle feeding. The sex of sea turtles is determined by temperature rather than genetics, and greater sand temperatures throughout gestation resulted in female turtle hatchlings. Therefore, continuous temperature increases could change the sex ratio, potentially leading to the extinction of some species. Finding out how many males are required to maintain healthy populations of green turtles is the third part of the research after the researchers had remarkable success with seawater irrigated nests. The crew went to Heron Island to achieve this, and there they performed underwater and drone surveys to figure out the southern population of green turtles on the reefs "operational" sex ratio (the proportion of reproducing mature males to females). As a result, there are several possible risks brought on by climate change that green turtles may need to adapt to in the long run (WWF, 2019).
It can be concluded that the natural plant and animal populations in Australia and around the world will be negatively impacted by climate change in a variety of ways. Since the Industrial Revolution, anthropogenic factors have sped up the natural global warming rate. The species and ecosystems found in coastal, polar, and alpine regions are some of the most fragile. Based on their durability and capacity to adapt to a warmer climate, certain species may be able to survive. Increased sea temperatures, melting ice sheets, a rise in the global mean surface temperature, and an increase in extreme weather occurrences are the results of this. Numerous communities of plants and animals as well as their habitats are significantly impacted by these global shifts. The two most prevalent adaption tactics are shifting breeding seasons and moving to a milder location. Discussions were held regarding the potential effects of climate change on Australian mangrove communities, Great Barrier Reef, green sea turtles, and Australian Koalas. These animals may face serious effects from climate change that could ultimately put their survival in jeopardy. The Paris Agreement lays a strong platform for global improvement and may help to mitigate the effects of global warming.
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Beeson. (2013). The politics of climate change in Australia. Australian Journal of Politics & History, 331-348. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ajph.12019
Beggs. (2021). The 2021 report of the MJA–Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia increasingly out on a limb. Medical journal of Australia, 390-392. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.5694/mja2.51302
DCCEEW. (2022). Climate Change Bill 2022. Australian Government . https://www.dcceew.gov.au/about/news/climate-change-bill-2022#:~:text=The%20Australian%20Government%20has%20introduced,and%20net%20zero%20by%202050
Dietzel, A. (2020). Great Barrier Reef has lost half of its corals since 1995. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-54533971
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Fortin, J. (2019). Koalas Aren’t Extinct, but Their Future Is in Danger, Experts Say. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/world/australia/koala-fires-functionally-extinct.html
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Smith. (2021). The global climate and health agenda: Australia must do more. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 3-4. https://researchnow.flinders.edu.au/en/publications/the-global-climate-and-health-agenda-australia-must-do-more
Times. (2022). Australia environment rapidly declined in 5 years, says govt report: What unique wildlife does the world stand to lose? Times Now . https://www.timesnownews.com/exclusive/australia-enviroment-changes-climate-affect-australia-unique-wildlife-does-the-world-stand-to-lose-article-92983804
Wstcott, B. (2021). Koalas are dying from chlamydia, and climate change is making it worse. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/06/australia/australia-koala-chlamydia-intl-dst-hnk/index.html
WWF. (2019). GREEN TURTLES AND CLIMATE CHANGE. WWF - Australia . https://www.wwf.org.au/what-we-do/species/green-turtle/green-turtles-and-climate-change
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