AFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FRESWATER ECOSYSTMES

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Caley Danielle Wade
March 4th, 2020
Senior 2
Senior Biology

An ecosystem is made up living and non-living things and can be either land or water based.

Freshwater ecosystems are a subset of aquatic or water based ecosystems. Freshwater

ecosystems include ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, springs and wetlands. A wide range of

organisms such as plants, animals, and microbes are found in freshwater ecosystems. The

smallest are the microscopic plants and animals known as phytoplankton and zooplankton. In

these ecosystems, the water can either be flowing or still and are classified based on different

factors such as, temperature, light penetration, nutrients, and vegetation. The living organisms as

mentioned above within these ecosystems react with factors such as light, food, oxygen, weather,

and climate in different ways. Freshwater ecosystems are less extensive than marine ecosystems,

but are more vital for global biodiversity. This is especially true in dry environments where small

isolated areas of freshwater provide a source of water for many plants and animals.

Over the past few decades, climate change has presented a number of problems that affect the

livelihood of individuals. It affects the overall function of many different ecosystems and can

cause irreversible damage in a number of ways. Freshwater ecosystems are especially susceptible

to the effects of climate change both physically and chemically. Climate change is the result of

increased CO 2 emissions and is linked to freshwater acidification, rising global temperatures, and

more extreme weather patterns. This includes the temperature of the water in freshwater

ecosystems. It affects the way organisms behave and affects the interaction between biotic and

abiotic factors within the ecosystem. When CO 2 is released into the atmosphere, it acts as a

blanket trapping the heat that is radiated off of the biosphere. The more humans continue to
AFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FRESWATER ECOSYSTMES
2
Caley Danielle Wade
March 4th, 2020
Senior 2
Senior Biology

produce CO 2 the higher the concentration. This leaves room for CO 2 to be absorbed by the

biosphere and for the earth to become hotter and weather patterns to become more extreme.

As global temperatures continue to rise, mainly due to human induced climate change, the

overall temperature of the water in freshwater ecosystems begin to rise. Temperature is one of

the major factors that affects the way freshwater ecosystems run. The organisms that are affected

are mainly cold blooded organisms. Their internal temperatures are heavily dependent on the

external temperatures. This means that their metabolic rate is dependent on the temperature of

the water. The main effects of increased temperature include the behavior and reproduction of

the organisms within the ecosystem. For example, if the temperature were to increase for rivers

and lakes, there would be an increase in primary productivity, more intense algal blooms, and

longer and more intense periods of summer stratification with greater release of phosphorus and

oxygen depletion. This causes stress for organisms that have high oxygen requirements and

results in a change in the way species are distributed and reduction of biodiversity which can

lead to impaired ecosystem services.

Another effect of climate change is freshwater acidification. As mentioned before climate change

is directly linked to increased CO 2 concentrations within the atmosphere. While Freshwater

ecosystems do not absorb carbon the way oceans do in ocean acidification, there are still a

number of ways that freshwater bodies gain excess carbon. In freshwater ecosystems belonging

to lakes and reservoirs, the excess atmospheric CO 2 feeds surrounding plant life. As they become

larger, the amount of organic carbon available and broken down after they die increases.

Precipitation then causes this carbon to be washed into the bodies of water. This causes the
AFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FRESWATER ECOSYSTMES
3
Caley Danielle Wade
March 4th, 2020
Senior 2
Senior Biology

acidity of the bodies of water to rise. Research showed that over a 35-year period, reservoirs in

Germany had both an increase in CO 2 and a related decrease in pH (Win 2018). They detected

these changes from data from the local Ruhr region agency, which monitors drinking water, over

the years 1981 to 2015. This proves that the acidification of Freshwater ecosystems is possible,

and can affect the organisms within these ecosystems.

Moreover, extreme weather patterns induced by climate change have been found to cause an

increase in frequency of extreme storm events. This causes water from surrounding watersheds

to enter the freshwater ecosystems, bringing along with it, washed up nutrients, invasive species,

and pesticides. These unfriendly additions can cause harm to the organisms within the

ecosystem, which like rising temperatures, also plays a role in the reduction of biodiversity and

impaired ecosystem services.

Climate change has played a significant role in the changes that have taken place within

freshwater ecosystems. Over the past few decades, factors such as increased temperature and

increased atmospheric CO 2 levels have been found to cause changes in the interactions between

biotic and abiotic factors within freshwater ecosystems. For example, as temperatures in the

water have risen due to the overall rise in global temperatures, the amount of dissolved oxygen

within the water has decreased. This has been seen to affect the productivity of fish and other

organisms within the ecosystems. With less oxygen in the water the fish have been observed to

have lower rates of reproduction. The fish that are produced are noticeably smaller in size and

have been found to have shorter life spans (Woodward 2010).

AFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FRESWATER ECOSYSTMES
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Caley Danielle Wade
March 4th, 2020
Senior 2
Senior Biology

Freshwater is a resource that is in high demand because it supports numerous economically,

ecologically, and culturally important species and ecosystem services, including agriculture,

fisheries, recreational activities, and clean drinking water. But due to the effects of climate

change it is becoming more and more difficult for freshwater to be supplied. If climate change

itself cannot be stopped, our planet is at risk of losing one of its most valuable resources.

As mentioned before Freshwater ecosystems are vital for global biodiversity. It is something that

we as a planet need to preserve in order to secure our world for generations to come. The main

cause of climate change is the release of CO 2 into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. CO 2

causes an increase in global temperatures, extreme weather patterns, and freshwater acidification,

which affects freshwater ecosystems.

It is possible to decrease the effects of climate change on these ecosystems by minimizing the

burning of fossil fuels through the use of environmentally sustainable alternatives in an effort to

decrease the rising levels of CO 2 in the atmosphere. Switching to environmentally friendly

appliances such as energy saving light bulbs or using alternative energy sources are ways in

which the burning of fossil fuels can be minimized. Recycling and reusing materials, as well as

switching over completely from the use of disposable materials to reusable materials are ways to

reduce the usage of fossil fuels. These methods may not full reverse the effects that climate

change has presented, but it aids in ensure that no more irreversible damage is done. It is

important to preserve the biodiversity that freshwater ecosystem provides globally. By doing this

we are not only improving our livelihoods, but are making a step to preserve and sustain the

livelihoods of future populations.

AFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FRESWATER ECOSYSTMES
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Caley Danielle Wade
March 4th, 2020
Senior 2
Senior Biology

References
Climate impacts on freshwater resources and ecosystems. (n.d.). Retrieved from NECASC:
https://necsc.umass.edu/content/climate-impacts-freshwater-resources-and-ecosystems

Freshwater Ecosystems . (n.d.). Retrieved from National Geographic :

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/freshwater-ecosystem/

Guy Woodward, D. M. (2010, July 12). Climate change and freshwater ecosystems: impacts across
multiple levels of organization. Retrieved from The Royal Society Publishing :
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rstb.2010.0055

Patuto, D. (n.d.). Freshwater Ecosystem Lesson for kids . Retrieved from Study.com:
https://study.com/academy/lesson/freshwater-ecosystem-lesson-for-kids.html

Win, T. L. (2018, January 13). Freshwater strees as acidity rises . Retrieved from JakartaGlobe :
https://jakartaglobe.id/news/freshwater-stress-acidity-rises-scientists-say/

Yatoo, B. H. (2019, July 18). Impact of Climate Change on Freshwater Ecosystem and Its Sustainable
Management. Retrieved from Springer : https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-13-
8277-2_7