Climate Change: Impacts on Ecosystems and Biodiversity

This lecture discusses the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity, focusing on the ecological responses of organisms to warming. The instructor introduces key concepts such as phenology, adaptation, and extinction risks associated with climate change. The lecture highlights the importance of understanding how climate influences species distribution and ecosystem dynamics. It covers various studies and models that illustrate the shifts in plant and animal behaviors due to changing climatic conditions. The instructor emphasizes the need for tools to predict these impacts and discusses the role of human activities in exacerbating these changes. The lecture also addresses the concept of ecological niches and how they relate to climate, providing examples of species that are particularly vulnerable to temperature changes. The session concludes with a discussion on potential solutions for adaptation and mitigation, encouraging students to consider sustainable practices that balance ecological, social, and economic factors.