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Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity
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Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 June 2023) | Viewed by 10805

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mohammed Latif Khan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Botany, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya (A Central University), Sagar 470003, Madhya Pradesh, India
Interests: climate; ecosystems; forests; biodiversity; agriculture; GIS
Dr. Asif Qureshi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering & Department of Climate Change, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad 502284, India
Interests: biogeochemical cycles; environmental health; modeling; anthropogenic drivers; environmental chemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change is one of if not the most important environmental challenges of our times. There are many manifestations of the impacts of climate change. A healthy planet is essential to support life as we know it. This includes a rich ensemble of species, from the smallest of bacteria to the largest of forests. A highly biodiverse ecosystem is resilient to shocks and provides for itself and others through various ecosystem services. 

Climate change affects species habitats, abundance, occurrence zones and migration. This could be due to shifts in temperature, rainfall, other weather parameters or any indirect manifestations of climate change, for example, increases in extreme events. Biodiversity changes have a cascading effect on ecosystem services and human livelihood.

Climate change impacts terrestrial ecosystems as well as aquatic ecosystems, including flora and fauna. In terrestrial ecosystems, changes may occur in the microbial abundance that in turn influences productivity, changes in faunal composition, agricultural productivity, or faunal composition and distributions. In terms of aquatic ecosystems, changes may occur in freshwater or marine water systems, affecting species abundance and distribution, and causing coral bleaching, temperature shifts, and the propagation of impacts throughout the food-web.

We invite high-quality articles on studies addressing the above, or any other, impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Both experimental and mathematical modeling studies are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Mohammed Latif Khan
Dr. Asif Qureshi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • biodiversity
  • ecosystem services
  • montane ecosystems
  • soil
  • forest
  • agriculture
  • freshwater
  • marine water
  • distribution
  • abundance

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2334 KiB  
Article
Eco-Geography of Dioscorea composita (Hemsl.) in México and Central America under the Influence of Climate Change
by Jocelyn M. Velázquez-Hernández, José Ariel Ruíz-Corral, Noé Durán-Puga, Diego R. González-Eguiarte, Fernando Santacruz-Ruvalcaba, Giovanni Emmanuel García-Romero, Jesús Germán de la Mora-Castañeda, Carlos Félix Barrera-Sánchez and Agustín Gallegos-Rodríguez
Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12320; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612320 - 12 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3233
Abstract
Dioscorea composita is a plant with historical recognition for the production of secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical importance, including diosgenin, and with great nutritional and ethnobotanical value in its center of origin (México and Central America). Furthermore, it is considered a promising therapeutic agent [...] Read more.
Dioscorea composita is a plant with historical recognition for the production of secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical importance, including diosgenin, and with great nutritional and ethnobotanical value in its center of origin (México and Central America). Furthermore, it is considered a promising therapeutic agent against cancer. Currently, México is one of the two most important countries producing this yam; however, climate change is altering the environmental conditions of its natural habits, threatening its preservation and productivity. This is why this research was focused on characterizing the eco-geography of D. composita and predicting its potential geographic distribution under climate change scenarios in México-Central America. A collection of 408 geo-referenced accessions was used to determine its climatic adaptation, ecological descriptors, and the current and future potential geographic distribution, which was modeled with the MaxEnt model through the Kuenm R-package. For future climate scenarios, an ensemble of the GCMs HadGEM-ES and CCSM4 was used. Results showed that D. composita adapts to warm and humid and very humid agro-climates and, the most contributing variables for its presence are annual and seasonal moisture availability indices, the seasonal photoperiod, annual thermal range, and Bio14 and Bio11. The current potential distribution (692,123 km2) of D. composita might decrease by the year 2050 RCP4.5 (365,680 km2) and might increase by 2050 under the scenario RCP8.5 (763,589 km2), showing this plant could be a good crop option for this climate change scenario. The findings obtained provide valuable information that will allow for the effective utilization of this plant, both in terms of developing new pharmaceutical products and implementing appropriate conservation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity)
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16 pages, 2418 KiB  
Article
Characterization of Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Forest Fire in Chhattisgarh, India, Using MODIS-Based Active Fire Data
by Tapas Ray, Dinesh Malasiya, Akshkumar Verma, Ekta Purswani, Asif Qureshi, Mohammed Latif Khan and Satyam Verma
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7046; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097046 - 23 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3440
Abstract
Forest fires are one of the most common natural and anthropogenic events that have long-term impacts on the environment. In this study, we analyzed 17 years of data on forest fires in Chhattisgarh, India, using active fire and burned area data from the [...] Read more.
Forest fires are one of the most common natural and anthropogenic events that have long-term impacts on the environment. In this study, we analyzed 17 years of data on forest fires in Chhattisgarh, India, using active fire and burned area data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. Chhattisgarh was selected as the study area due to its high incidences of forest fires, significant forest cover, and scarce studies on forest fires. Our findings showed that the number of forest fires in the region increased over time, from 1487 forest fires in 2005 to 3074 forest fires in 2021, with the highest number of fires occurring in 2017 and 2009. Most of the fires occurred in deciduous broadleaf forests and savannas, following a consistent seasonal pattern, with the highest percentage of fires (88.88%) occurring in March, April, and May. The fire hotspot was located in the southwest region, dominated by deciduous broadleaf forests which are particularly prone to fires. These results emphasize the significance of effective fire management strategies that consider the seasonal and annual variability of forest fires, particularly in high-risk areas. Immediate attention to controlling forest fires is also critical to minimize its impact on the environment and local communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity)
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15 pages, 5167 KiB  
Article
MODIS-Derived Fire Characteristics and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cropland Residue Burning in Central India
by Tapas Ray, Mohammed Latif Khan, Asif Qureshi and Satyam Verma
Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16612; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416612 - 12 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1441
Abstract
Cropland residue burning is one of the major causes of the emission of greenhouse gases and pollutants into the atmosphere, and is a major global environmental problem. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal changes in greenhouse gas emissions from cropland residue burning in Chhattisgarh, [...] Read more.
Cropland residue burning is one of the major causes of the emission of greenhouse gases and pollutants into the atmosphere, and is a major global environmental problem. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal changes in greenhouse gas emissions from cropland residue burning in Chhattisgarh, India. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) active fire data was analyzed over a 21-year (2001–2021) period, and associated greenhouse gas emissions were estimated. A total of 64,370 fire points were recorded for all land cover types. The number of cropland fires increased from 49 to 1368 between 2001 and 2021, with a burning peak observed between December and March. Fires in cropland areas contributed to 32.4% (19,878) of the total fire counts in the last 21 years. The total estimated emissions of greenhouse gases between 2001 and 2021 ranged from 421.5 to 37,233 Gg, with an annual rate of emission of 8972 Gg from wheat residue burning, and from 435.45 to 64,108.1 Gg, with an annual emission of 15,448.16 Gg from rice residue burning. The Chhattisgarh plain region was the cropland fire hotspot of the state. The present study indicates increased cropland residue-burning activity in Chhattisgarh. Therefore, there is an immediate need to develop sustainable alternative methods for agricultural residue management and eco-friendly methods for the disposal of crop residues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity)
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25 pages, 4361 KiB  
Article
Loss and Gain in Potential Distribution of Threatened Wild Cotton Gossypium thurberi in Mexico under Future Climate
by Alma Delia Baez-Gonzalez, Kimberly A. Alcala-Carmona, Alicia Melgoza-Castillo, Mieke Titulaer and James R. Kiniry
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13144; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013144 - 13 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1502
Abstract
Gossypium thurberi, a threatened wild cotton species native to northern Mexico and southwestern USA, is globally important because its agronomic traits can be introgressed into cultivated species to improve fiber quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors. However, studies on the [...] Read more.
Gossypium thurberi, a threatened wild cotton species native to northern Mexico and southwestern USA, is globally important because its agronomic traits can be introgressed into cultivated species to improve fiber quality and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors. However, studies on the current and future potential distribution of the species are scarce. The objectives of this study were (1) to develop a distribution model of G thurberi using a Geographic Information System platform, (2) determine environmental factors that influence the current distribution of the species in Mexico, and (3) estimate the potential distribution of the species under current and future climates. We analyzed the following variables: Annual Available Soil Water (mm year−1, AASW), Flowering Growing Degree Days (FGDD), absolute minimum temperature (°C, Tminabs), and altitude (amsl, ALT). Results showed that the current potential distribution of G. thurberi in northern Mexico, estimated at 112,727 square kilometers, is projected to be drastically reduced by 77 and 86%, considering a possible increase in temperature of 1.5 °C and 2 °C in near-future (2021–2040) and mid-future (2041–2060) climates, respectively, and a 100 mm reduction in average annual precipitation under both climates. The greatest reduction will be in areas in Sonora (Mexico) adjoining Arizona (USA), where the largest populations of the species are currently reported. AASW, FGDD, and ALT jointly influence the distribution of G. thurberi, with AASW as the dominant factor under future climate change. The areas that may continue to harbor populations of G. thurberi under future climate will present AASW of 0.2–55.6 mm year−1, FGDD of 242–547, and ALT between 550 and 1561 amsl. The projected future potential distribution in the country includes new suitable areas, including one in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, that may serve as refuge areas. The findings can contribute to the design of more precise collection efforts and conservation strategies to prevent species extinction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity)
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