Impacts of Climate Change on Aquatic Biodiversity in Africa

Abstract

AbstractThe climate change phenomenon is an issue which has posed serious threats to the environment and the economy of developed, developing and underdeveloped countries of the world. The concept of global warming was prominent in the post-industrial era, sequel to that the issue of global cooling was the case during the pre-industrial era. The climate change issues can be of natural occurrence which may be from sources such as eruption of volcanos, respiration by living organisms and decomposition by micro-organisms or man-made occurrence which are from anthropogenic activities such as emission discharge from industries, burning of fossil, agricultural activities, transportation and various commercial activities. The greenhouse gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases are released from both natural and man-made sources into the atmosphere, and accumulation over time in the atmosphere can lead to depletion in the ozone layer. Countries where inhabitants do not comply with environmental emission laws are highly vulnerable to increased greenhouse gases. This affects fish species, coral reefs and nursery and breeding habitats for fish species are eroded and the source of livelihood and economic returns of the fish farmers are affected. Fish species may also migrate when the water temperature exceeds the tolerable range. Several measures such as afforestation and awareness of the dangers of this phenomenon can go a long way in mitigating these effects. Conversely, it is expedient to know and understand the concepts of climate change, how it can impact life most especially in the aquatic ecosystem as elaborated by SDG 14—Life below water—and the necessary strategies to fight the impacts of climate change as elaborated by SDG 13 (Climate action). All of these will be explained in this chapter.KeywordsGreenhouse gasesAquatic habitatClimate actionSustainable development goalsAnthropogenic activities