Aquatic Invertebrates: Adaptations and Feeding Guilds INTRODUCTION Global warming and human's authoritative influence on the environment such as deforestation, pollution etc. are taking a bad toll on the diversity of the ecosystem. Global warming which has brought about increase in the temperatures is disturbing the natural cycle of the ecosystem. This has brought upon an increased droughts throughout the world. The droughts and increased heat has had negative impacts on local aquatic invertebrates.
One major threat is that coral reefs are under huge stress due to the impact that human activities are having and in fact already 1/5 of the world’s coral reefs are so damaged that they are beyond repair. The increase of average global temperatures is leading to an increased rate of ice cap melting. This is due to global warming, making a global threat to all ecosystems including the coral reef. The reason for this is that the melting of the ice caps releases more fresh water into the oceans, reducing salinity making sea level rise. Due to sea level rising coral reefs are getting destroyed, as they cannot survive in water above 25m.
Many worry about the negative consequences Global Warming may have on our Earth. It is believed that there will be detremental effects from sea to land. A rise in water levels causing the icecaps to melt. Melting icecaps would then release methane another greenhouse gas. The oceans salt water would mix with freshwater and CO2 would get absorbed into the oceans causing disabling effects on our waters food chain.
This, in turn, can affect habitat quality for plants and animals that live downstream. Biodiversity may be lost if aquatic plants and animals cannot tolerate changing water conditions. When large volumes of water are pumped from a stream or river, water chemistry can change significantly with a drop in water level. Temperatures may rise and oxygen levels may drop, affecting aquatic species that don't have a wide tolerance. Biodiversity may also be reduced if invasive species, such as the zebra mussel or golden algae, are introduced into a waterbody during the drilling process.
Over the years, the silt has been collecting in Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir, and it is predicted that over the next few hundred years this lake will fill up with silt. This could threaten the entire Colorado River reservoir system. Just in the past 10 years, Lake Mead’s water levels have dropped by more than 100 feet and the basin is only half full. Something needs to be done to stop the trends and even
(E) (4) effect on photosynthesis (light independent reaction); increased rate with small increases, disruption with larger; increased rate of growth of (some) plants; possible increased rate of crop growth; effect of other limiting factors. (PS) (5) effect on transpiration; increased rate of water loss and hence wilting/dehydration; reduced stomatal opening may affect photosynthesis; possible consequences of drought on ecosystems. (T) (6) effect on respiration and metabolism; increased effect on growth and activity, especially of ectotherms. (M) (7) ecological effects of disruption of food webs and the dynamics of ecosytems, with changes in niches and hence communities. (EC) (8) effect on species; extinction of species that are unable to adapt, especially ones with specialised requirements; limited opportunity for plants and some animals to spread to more suitable conditions as climate changes.
The inability of rain will led to increase heat and that may lead to have dryer soils and that would have a big impact in our agriculture. Productivity will decline. Even though if that happens irrigation to fill water needs could be a way to help the need of rain. The soil of Indiana is a major natural resource that temperature changes will affect, hotter drier summers, would be the main cause of loss soil organic matter and will result an increased soil respiration. Loss of soil will decrease the ability to retain moisture and specially essential nutrients for plant growth.
This can cause unforeseen economic and ecologic problems that may be irreversible. Farming must be improved to make it more environmentally friendly, and fishing needs to be done on a sustainable
Climate is an important environmental influence on ecosystems. Climate changes and the impacts of climate change affect ecosystems in a variety of ways. For instance, warming could force species to migrate to higher latitudes or higher elevations where temperatures are more conducive
The method of hydraulic fracturing has substantially increased as classical petroleum gas extraction is on the decline. The process of fracking has induced heavy concerns. Scientists have been led to believe that by digging deep into the Earth's surface numerous concerns may arise. Many U.S states that have been experimenting with fracking have experienced higher frequencies of earth quakes over the years. Furthermore, the influx of chemicals brought deep into the ground for extraction purposes have mixed with ground water, leading to lethal contamination of local drinking water.