Reasons for Choosing the Book
The book ‘Climate Change and Biodiversity’ offers an in-depth analysis of the impact created by climate change and the inhibitive factors regarding the prediction of the phenomenon in future. The main problem that inspired me to choose the book is my passion for the environment and the increasingly adverse effects of human behavior on the ecosystem. In addition, the various programs developed by different governments to promote environmental sustainability played a role in my selection of the book. The other book I almost considered is that of Chivian titled “Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity.” The work presents how biodiversity forms an integral part of people’s lives by providing various benefits. For instance, some trees and plants have medicinal value as their barks, leaves and roots are used to cure a variety of illnesses. Likewise, plants such as fruit and vegetables are life-sustaining food sources which are essential to maintaining a healthy diet and these books are related to stressing the importance of the environment to the health of the human beings. However, the manuscript on climate change and biodiversity provides a comprehensive framework regarding the role of the environment by elaborating on the effects of the phenomena on the biosphere.
Reflective Piece of the Book
The book significantly improved my understanding of the various effects of climate change across the globe and the numerous impediments to future predictions regarding the phenomenon. For instance, the present amount of greenhouse gas that has accumulated in the atmosphere has caused an unprecedented rise in average universal temperatures since the mid-twentieth century. As such, it is predicted that the world will have an equal level of temperature influx by the end of 2100 even if the greenhouse gas discharge is expected to end sooner. This has significantly led to a substantial effect on various species and the delicate ecosystems of our environment (Lovejoy 1). Consequently, the geographical manifestations of different species have also shifted. For instance, Edith’s Checkerspot butterfly has moved its locality from an upward altitude to a northward latitude.
The transformations have also been witnessed in aquatic ecosystems such as the change in the geographical occurrence of planktons and availability of fish species. The tropical ecology has similarly been affected by the degree of climate change as observed in the Monteverde cloud forest (Lovejoy 2). This is based on the raised altitudes of the areas near the region, which has led to numerous dry days in the forest. The consequences of climate change have also been felt in the Arctic region, which continuously experiences significant reductions in the level of Arctic ice, particularly at the end of the summers.
The escalating level of climate change has resulted in an increase in global temperatures, which is projected as most significant towards in the polar regions, more specifically in the northern hemisphere (Lovejoy 3). The climate change phenomenon also exposes numerous species of flora and fauna to the risk of extinction due to alterations in the climatic conditions of their natural habitats. The transformation of land for human activity furthermore increase the chances of the disturbance and negative effects on natural habitats of different species. This establishes a further barrier, preventing species from adapting to prevailing climatic phenomena (Lovejoy 4). Consequently, the primary impediment to forecasting the impending effects of climate change is that each species moves in a distinct direction. For instance, the behavior was observed in the reaction of species after ice started melting in the Arctic regions.
Another challenge is that the climate change is not linear or steady based on past records of such events. The increased accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere has caused a rise in the level of acidity to approximately 30%. This has created an impact among species that develop shells and skeletons through the use of calcium carbonate. The high acidity levels in the water thus inhibits the accumulation of the mineral by the organisms, hence facilitating their extinction (Lovejoy 5). Deforestation and sustainable agriculture furthermore play an important role in the reduction of the impact of climate change, as the process lowers the concentration of the greenhouse gases in space.
After reading the book, I felt shocked by the degree to which human beings have substantially affected the normal functioning of our ecosystems. This prompted my desire to embark on various projects to help protect the environment as a way of reducing the effects caused by climate change. Based on the comprehensive details provided in the book on climate change, I can easily recommend it to my classmates. This will enable them to understand the various causes of climate change and how human beings substantially aggravate the process. Furthermore, the book will enable them to know some of the regions that are currently facing the effects of climate change, such as the decreasing levels of Arctic ice. In addition, the book will help create awareness among my colleagues on the need to protect and conserve biodiversity and to assist in achieving sustainable global development goals.
Work Cited
Lovejoy, Thomas E. Climate Change and Biodiversity. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), 2006. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=efP4ZWQXgdMC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=Climate+change+and+biodiversity+T.+Lovejoy&ots=Lfy7WzSbT8&sig=N69c6Cqpj-czkzZRyj47bx0O3OM