Evidence of current impact of climate change on life: a walk from genes to the biosphere

Abstract

We review the evidence of how organisms and populations are currently responding to climate change through phenotypic plasticity, genotypic evolution, changes in distribution and, in some cases, local extinction. Organisms alter their gene expression and metabolism to increase the concentrations of several antistress compounds and to change their physiology, phenology, growth and reproduction in response to climate change. Rapid adaptation and microevolution occur at the population level. Together with these phenotypic and genotypic adaptations, the movement of organisms and the turnover of populations can lead to migration toward habitats with better conditions unless hindered by barriers. Both migration and local extinction of populations have occurred. However, many unknowns for all these processes remain. The roles of phenotypic plasticity and genotypic evolution and their possible trade-offs and links with population structure warrant further research. The application of omic techniques to ecological studies will greatly favor this research. It remains poorly understood how climate change will result in asymmetrical responses of species and how it will interact with other increasing global impacts, such as N eutrophication, changes in environmental N : P ratios and species invasion, among many others. The biogeochemical and biophysical feedbacks on climate of all these changes in vegetation are also poorly understood. We here review the evidence of responses to climate change and discuss the perspectives for increasing our knowledge of the interactions between climate change and life.

Determining residential energy consumption-based CO2 emissions and examining the factors affecting the variation in Ankara, Turkey

“…The main gases that cause climate change are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), which account for 99% of total GHG emissions. Owing to fossil fuel burning and deforestation, concentration of atmospheric CO2 has increased from 280 ppm at preindustrial revolution era to 406 ppm in February 2017 [2,3]. Carbon dioxide emission mainly results from the use of fossil fuels and also the sector with the largest share in the formation of carbon dioxide emission is energy production [4].…”

Increasing aridity reduces soil microbial diversity and abundance in global drylands

“…Given the dependence of crucial ecosystem processes and services on biodiversity (3-5), climate-change-driven biodiversity losses will dramatically alter the functioning of natural ecosystems (4,6). Key ecosystem processes-such as nutrient cycling, carbon (C) sequestration, and organic matter decompositiondepend on soil bacteria and fungi (7)(8)(9).…”

Plant ecophysiological responses to drought, nocturnal warming and variable climate in the Pannonian sand forest-steppe: results of a six-year climate manipulation experiment

“…The ecological impacts of recent climate change, including both gradual climatic trends and extreme weather events, like summer heat waves and severe droughts, have already been detected or predicted at multiple organizational levels from individuals to ecosystems (Walther et al 2002, Ciais et al 2005, Peñuelas et al 2013). These effects can be different according to the sensitivity of ecosystems to climate variability (Seddon et al 2016).…”