Climate Change: Impacts on Ecosystems and Biodiversity

This lecture discusses the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, focusing on adaptation and migration of species. It begins by outlining the role of climate as a primary determinant of species distribution and the ecological niches defined by Hutchinson and Elton. The instructor highlights the uneven warming of the northern hemisphere compared to the southern hemisphere, with the Alps experiencing even faster warming. The lecture emphasizes immediate responses of organisms to climate change, such as phenotypic plasticity and shifts in phenology. It also covers the migration of species, particularly trees and birds, in response to changing climatic conditions. The discussion includes the effects of climate change on alpine vegetation and the colonization of higher altitudes by new species. The lecture concludes with a look at the interactions between climate change and other global changes, such as land use and biological invasions, and their combined effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functions.