Abstract:
Both habitat loss and climate change are major threatening factors contributing to the loss of biodiversity worldwide. But due to the complexity of both processes, little is known about their synergistic effects on biological populations. At worst, current conservation management measures may be wasteful and, at worst, useless if the combined effects of habitat loss and climate change are higher than the consequences of either danger alone. Therefore, there is a pressing need to identify the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. The study assessed the components of biodiversity; the classification of biodiversity based on their importance; the impacts of climate change on biodiversity; and the relationship between climate change and biodiversity. There was a relationship between climate change and biodiversity in that climate change has significant direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity, and is expected to be a major cause of potential biodiversity loss; which magnifies the negative effects of climate change. It was also found that biodiversity is being lost due to habitat loss and degradation, resource overexploitation, unprecedented climatic shifts, deforestation, pests, cultivation shifting, and wildlife poaching. It was concluded that the loss of biodiversity is undoubtedly caused by climate change, and that in order to maintain the ecosystem's balance, it is necessary to understand how plants, animals, and biodiversity interact. As a result, efforts should be made to promote biodiversity conservation and protection by designating hotspots as biosphere reserves and expanding afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry practices.
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