Review on Effect of Climate Change on Forest Ecosystem

Abstract

Climate change is one of the world's greatest challenges and creates effects on forest ecosystem. Forest ecosystems are sensitive to climate thus; climate change has significant effects on species distributions, the growth rate and structure of forests. Changes in climate are strongly affect forest ecosystem by altering the growth, mortality and reproduction of trees. Increasing temperatures changes the timing of life cycle events (phenology), with earlier bud burst, leafing and flowering in trees. This review focuses on the effect of climate change on forest ecosystems. Climate change alters and shifts forest ecosystems both directly and indirectly. Warming temperature directly affects rate of plant photosynthesis and respiration processes, also indirectly by increasing the risk of infestation. Climate change can modify disturbance regimes that affect the carbon cycle, forest structure, species composition, and alter forest ecosystem function. Disturbances such as fire, species invasions, insect and disease outbreaks are disrupting the structure, composition and function of forest ecosystem. Fire effect on forest ecosystem includes; disturbance of wild life habitat, acceleration of nutrient cycling, and mortality of individual trees. The frequency, size, intensity, seasonality, and type of fires depend on the amount and frequency of precipitation in addition to forest structure and composition. Many pests and pathogens will reproduce more quickly, expand their ranges and invade new regions under warmer, wetter, or carbon dioxide enriched conditions. Increasing temperature has an effect on nutrient availability in the soil through the stimulation of organic matter decomposition and mineralization of soil nutrients.

Spatial and Temporal Changes in Nutrient Source Contribution in a Lowland Catchment Within the Baltic Sea Region Under Climate Change Scenarios

“…Since forest areas are not commonly subjected to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisation, in this area such an increase results mainly from the interactions between vegetation and climatic conditions that regulate the outflow of nutrients from this source. In addition, excessive inflow of nutrients from neighboring areas (sources) may cause their accumulation in forest soils, resulting in increased nutrient leaching to surface waters (Bernal et al, 2012;Gebeyehu, 2019; González de Andrés, 2019. In turn, the response of urbanized areas to climate change scenarios distinguishes them from the other non-point sources in this catchment (Figure 5).…”

Climate Change and Its Impact on Food Security

“…Climate change particularly facilitates drought, fire and insect disturbance; thus, changes increase carbon dioxide concentration, reduce the strength of carbon sinks and may turn carbon sinks into source. Forest fires directly a loss of habitat, kill plants and animals in the forest ecosystem" [13]. "Forest ecosystems are affected directly and indirectly by climate change.…”

“…The structure, composition, and operation of the forest ecosystem are being disturbed by disturbances including fire, species invasions, insect and disease outbreaks, and more. The impact of fire on the forest ecosystem includes the destruction of habitat for wildlife, an acceleration of the nutrient cycle, and the death of individual trees" [14].…”

Impacts of Climate Change on the Plant Water Interactions

“…Other broad effects of climate change that affect many ecosystems include changes in growth rates, the relative abundance of various species, processes like water and nutrient cycle, and the risk of disturbance from fire, insects, and invasive species (Gebeyehu & Hirpo, 2019). (Brierley & Kingsford, 2009).…”