Climate Change Interlinkages

The links between climate change and biodiversity – animals, the length of the growing season, species
both aquatic and terrestrial – are illustrative of the links distribution and abundance of pole-ward and upward
between land, water and atmosphere. Biodiversity is, shifts in the ranges of plant and animal species, and
in many instances, under multiple pressures. These can the frequency of pest and disease outbreaks.
include land degradation, land and water pollution,
and invasive alien species. Changes in climate exert Changes in regional temperatures have contributed
additional pressures, which have affected biodiversity. to changes in stream-flow, and the frequency and
intensity of extreme climatic events, such as floods,
These include disruption in timing of the reproduction droughts and heat waves. These changes have af-
process of animals and plants, migration patterns of fected biodiversity and ecosystem services.
DownloaD Graphic 2
Linkages and feedback loops among desertification, global climate change and biodiversity loss
Desertification
Reduced carbon
sequestration into above-
Decreased plant and soil
and below-ground Reduces primary production
organismsʼ species diversity
carbon reserves and nutrient cycling
Reduced
soil conservation
Soil erosion
Increase in
extreme events
(floods, droughts, fires…)
Reduced
structural diversity
Reduced
of vegetation cover
carbon reserves
and diversity of microbial
and increased
species in soil crust
CO 2 emissions
Loss of nutrients
and soil structure
Climate change Biodiversity loss
Increases Change in
and reductions in community structure
species abundances and diversity
Source: MA 2005a
Notes: Green text: major components of biodiversity involved in the linkages. global warming increases evapotranspiration, adversely affecting biodiversity; changes in community structure
Bold text: major services impacted by biodiversity losses. The major components of biodiversity loss (in and diversity are also expected because different species will react differently to the elevated CO 2
green) directly affect major dryland services (in bold). The inner loops connect desertification to concentrations.
biodiversity loss and climate change through soil erosion. The outer loop interrelates biodiversity loss and
climate change. On the top section of the outer loop, reduced primary production and microbial activity
reduce carbon sequestration and contribute to global warning. On the bottom section of the outer loop,
16 VITAL GEO GRAPHICS