Impact of Climate Change on Plant Growth and Biodiversity

Abstract

Climate change is one of the most serious environmental challenges affecting plant growth, Biodiversity and agriculture systems. It is the change that is experienced in terms of temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind patterns, seasonal cycles and extreme weather events over a long period of time. Global warming is caused due to human activities like deforestation, industrialization, urbanisation, burning of fossil fuels and overexploitation of natural resources which have led to increase in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide etc. These climatic changes are very sensitive to plants because in the growth of plants, it requires temperature, sunlight, water, soil nutrients and atmospheric gases. Climate change leads to impacts on seed germination, root growth, photosynthesis, respiration, flowering, fruiting and the production of seeds. Drought stress due to rising temperature and irregular rainfall leads to low soil moisture and low plant productivity. It also has impacts on biodiversity, such as altering the distribution of species, habitat loss, introduction of invasive species and endangering rare and endemic plants. Agricultural ecosystems, mountains, wetlands and forests are particularly sensitive. The loss of traditional seed varieties, wild relatives of crops, soil microorganisms and pollinators are also contributing to the loss of agricultural biodiversity. Thus, conservation of plant biodiversity, afforestation, establishment of seed banks, gene banks, sustainable agriculture and climate resilient crop varieties are crucial to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and ensure ecological balance.