Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2024

First exams 2026

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Impacts of Climate Change on Ecosystems (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Revision Note

Impacts of Climate Change on Ecosystems

  • Climate change:

    • Impacts ecosystems on various scales, from local to global

    • Affects the resilience of ecosystems

    • Leads to biome shifts

Diagram showing how climate change affects the environment
How climate change affects the environment

Local impacts

Coral bleaching

  • Cause:

    • Increased sea temperatures cause corals to expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues

    • Without these algae, corals lose their colour (giving them a white appearance)

    • They also lose their main food source (the algae perform photosynthesis, producing organic compounds that the corals use as a primary energy source)

    • This leads to bleaching and eventually coral death

  • Effects:

    • Loss of biodiversity as fish and other marine species lose their habitat

    • Decline in fish populations in reef ecosystems

  • Example:

    • The Great Barrier Reef in Australia has experienced significant coral bleaching events

Desertification

  • Cause:

    • Prolonged droughts and higher temperatures

    • Unsustainable land practices like deforestation and overgrazing

  • Effects:

    • Loss of arable land and vegetation, leading to soil erosion

    • Reduced agricultural productivity

    • Displacement of communities

  • Example:

    • The Sahel region in Africa is facing severe desertification, affecting local livelihoods that rely on agriculture

Flowchart of natural desertification due to changing climate, showing the progression from drought, intense rainfall, and temperature increases leading to loss of vegetation, bare soil, and land degradation resulting in desertification.
Climate change is causing increased desertification

Global impacts

Changes to ocean circulation

  • Cause:

    • Melting ice caps and glaciers increase the freshwater input into oceans

    • This disrupts normal currents and circulation patterns

  • Effects:

    • Altered weather patterns

    • Changes in marine and coastal ecosystems

    • Changes in fish migration and distribution affecting fisheries

  • Example:

    • Slowing down of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which includes the Gulf Stream

    • This is leading to colder winters in Europe and warmer temperatures in the Arctic

Sea-level rise

  • Cause:

    • Melting ice caps and glaciers

    • Thermal expansion of seawater due to higher temperatures

  • Effects:

    • Coastal flooding and erosion, impacting ecosystems like mangroves and salt marshes

    • Loss of habitats for species in these biodiverse ecosystems

  • Example:

    • The Maldives is at risk of becoming uninhabitable due to rising sea levels

Photograph of a coastal settlement that has been flooded.
Coastal flooding is becoming increasingly common as a consequence of the rising sea levels caused by climate change (Photo by Nguyen Kiet on Unsplash)

Regional impacts on natural productivity

Increased productivity

  • Northern regions:

    • Warmer temperatures can extend the growing season and increase vegetation

    • Expansion of suitable areas for agriculture and forestry

    • For example, in parts of Canada and Russia, agriculture is expanding northward and growing seasons are longer due to warmer conditions

Decreased productivity

  • Tropical regions:

    • Higher temperatures and unpredictable rainfall can harm crops

    • For instance, shifting monsoon patterns in Southeast Asia are threatening rice yields

Factors affecting ecosystem resilience

Biodiversity

  • Climate change can reduce resilience by decreasing biodiversity

  • High biodiversity:

    • Increases resilience by providing a variety of species that can adapt to changes

    • For example, tropical rainforests have high biodiversity, helping them recover from disturbances

  • Low biodiversity:

    • Decreases resilience, making ecosystems more vulnerable

    • For example, monoculture farms are less resilient to pests and diseases

  • Impact of climate change:

    • Climate change can lead to habitat loss, altered food webs and extreme weather events

    • All of these can reduce biodiversity

      • For example, coral bleaching due to increased sea temperatures reduces the variety of species in coral reefs

      • This can reduce the resilience of coral reefs to other stressors, like ocean acidification or increased tropical storms

Habitat fragmentation

  • Climate change can also reduce resilience by causing habitat fragmentation

  • Connected habitats:

    • Enable species to migrate and adapt to changes

  • Fragmented habitats:

    • Isolate species and split populations, reducing their ability to adapt

  • Impact of climate change:

    • Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns can shift habitats, leading to fragmented landscapes

    • Climate change can fragment habitats in various ways:

      • Increased desertification: expanding deserts can divide ecosystems, making it harder for species to find resources and migrate

      • Increased rates of forest fires: more frequent and intense fires can break up forest ecosystems, isolating populations and reducing biodiversity

      • Melting polar ice caps: loss of ice habitats can fragment the habitats of polar species like polar bears and penguins, affecting their ability to hunt and reproduce

      • Species in mountainous regions might be forced to move to higher altitudes, creating isolated populations

  • These changes reduce the resilience of ecosystems by isolating species and limiting their ability to adapt to new conditions

Biome shifts

  • Climate change can result in biome shifts

    • This is where ecosystems change in location or type due to altered climatic conditions

  • Cause:

    • Changes in temperature, precipitation and extreme weather events

  • Effects:

    • Movement of biomes:

      • Biomes, such as forests, grasslands and tundra, may shift towards the poles or higher altitudes as species (including plants) shift ranges to find suitable climates

      • For example, in North America, temperate forests are moving northward, slowly replacing boreal forests

      • As species move to new areas or experience changes in their habitats, they may face new competition, predation, or disease

    • Transformation of existing biomes:

      • Current biomes may change in structure and composition

      • For example, the Arctic tundra is transforming into shrubland as warmer temperatures allow shrubs to grow

    • Loss of unique biomes:

      • Some biomes may disappear if conditions become unsuitable for the species that inhabit them

      • For example, alpine regions may lose their unique flora and fauna as temperatures rise and snow cover decreases

      • This can lead to declines in population numbers and even extinction in some cases

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remember that climate change has mixed effects. While it poses significant challenges, it can also bring advantages, such as extended growing seasons and the ability to cultivate crops further north. Higher temperatures can make some crops more productive, benefiting certain regions and societies. Keep this balanced perspective in mind during your exams!

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Alistair Marjot

Author: Alistair Marjot

Expertise: Biology & Environmental Systems and Societies

Alistair graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Biological Sciences. He has taught GCSE/IGCSE Biology, as well as Biology and Environmental Systems & Societies for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. While teaching in Oxford, Alistair completed his MA Education as Head of Department for Environmental Systems & Societies. Alistair has continued to pursue his interests in ecology and environmental science, recently gaining an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation with Edinburgh Napier University.

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