Indirect Effects Of Climate Change Research Articles

Sharp declines in observation and capture rates of Amazon birds in absence of human disturbance

Across the globe, unprecedented declines have been reported across a range of taxa. Among the most well documented are declines in bird populations, with most declines attributable to human activities such as deforestation and other alterations to habitats. There is increasing evidence that bird populations also have declined at sites within large expanses of relatively undisturbed lowland tropical forest, such as in Amazonia. Causes of such declines likely are varied and may be related to direct or indirect effects of climate change. Here, we use mist-net data and direct observations to examine changes in bird numbers over a 22-yr period on two 100-ha study plots in an Amazonian lowland forest of eastern Ecuador. As previously reported, capture rates experienced large declines from 2009 on; observation rates also showed large declines through 2013 but subsequently have shown no consistent trend up or down. Overall capture rates and observation rates are now approximately half the rates during the first decade. Most foraging guilds also declined over time, with declines particularly pronounced among insectivorous groups. With few exceptions, patterns of change were similar between plots suggesting a more general response rather than responses to local factors on each plot. Capture rates and observation rates of ∼90% of the most common species in both understory and canopy were lower during the latter part of the study, with only a few species (∼10%) showing increases. Similarly, large declines were seen in both canopy and understory mixed-species flocks. Large declines in bird numbers have been noted in other tropical sites that have conducted long-term population studies, including Panama and Brazil, suggesting a response to large-scale factors, such as climate change. While not yet documented, the consequences of losing approximately 50% of population abundance are likely substantial and could result in local extinction of rare species, altered species interactions and social organization, as well as declining ecological function and biotic integrity of these tropical forest ecosystems.

The impact of climate change and the conservation of the keystone Asian honeybee using niche models and systematic prioritization.

Global warming has seriously disturbed the Earth's ecosystems, and in this context, Asian honeybee (Apis cerana) has experienced a dramatic decline in recent decades. Here, we examined both direct and indirect effects of climate change on A. cerana through ecological niche modeling of A. cerana, and its disease pathogens (i.e., Chinese sacbrood virus and Melissococcus plutonius) and enemies (i.e., Galleria mellonella and Vespa mandarinia). Ecological niche modeling predicts that climate change will increase the potential suitability of A. cerana, but it will also cause some of the original habitat areas to become unsuitable. Outbreak risks of Chinese sacbrood disease and European Foulbrood will increase dramatically, while those of G. mellonella and V. mandarinia will decrease only slightly. Thus, climate change will produce an unfavorable situation for even maintaining some A. cerana populations in China in the future. Genetic structure analyses showed that the A. cerana population from Hainan Island had significant genetic differentiation from that of the mainland, and there was almost no gene flow between the 2, suggesting that urgent measures are needed to protect the unique genetic resources there. Through taking an integrated planning technique with the Marxan approach, we optimized conservation planning, and identified potential nature reserves (mainly in western Sichuan and southern Tibet) for conservation of A. cerana populations. Our results can provide insights into the potential impact of climate change on A. cerana, and will help to promote the conservation of the keystone honeybee in China and the long-term sustainability of its ecosystem services.

Incorporation of climate change into a multiple stressor risk assessment for the Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) population in the Yakima River, Washington, USA.

One outcome of the 2022 Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Pellston Workshop on incorporating climate change predictions into ecological risk assessments was the key question of how to integrate ecological risk assessments that focus on contaminants with the environmental alterations from climate projections. This article summarizes the results of integrating selected direct and indirect effects of climate change into an existing Bayesian network previously used for ecological risk assessment. The existing Bayesian Network Relative Risk Model integrated the effects of two organophosphate pesticides (malathion and diazinon), water temperature, and dissolved oxygen levels on the Chinook salmon population in the Yakima River Basin (YRB), Washington, USA. The endpoint was defined as the entity, Yakima River metapopulation, and the attribute was defined as no decline to a subpopulation or the overall metapopulation. In this manner, we addressed the management objective of no net loss of Chinook salmon, an iconic and protected species. Climate change-induced changes in water quality parameters (temperature and dissolved oxygen levels) used models based on projected climatic conditions in the 2050s and 2080s by the use of a probabilistic model. Pesticide concentrations in the original model were modified assuming different scenarios of pest control strategies in the future, because climate change may alter pest numbers and species. Our results predict that future direct and indirect changes to the YRB will result in a greater probability that the salmon population will continue to fail to meet the management objective of no net loss. As indicated by the sensitivity analysis, the key driver in salmon population risk was found to be current and future changes in temperature and dissolved oxygen, with pesticide concentrations being not as important. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:419-432. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

A habitat‐centered framework for wildlife climate change vulnerability assessments: Application to Gunnison sage‐grouse

AbstractThe persistence of threatened wildlife species depends on successful conservation and restoration of habitats, but climate change and other stressors make these tasks increasingly challenging. Applying climate change vulnerability analyses to contemporary wildlife management can be difficult because most analyses predict direct effects of future climate on wildlife species at broad geographic scales, rather than assessing their habitats at local scales (<1 km) that correspond to site‐specific habitat management actions. We present a framework that synthesizes vegetation‐focused vulnerability assessments to assess multiple effects on wildlife species' diverse habitat needs, providing a scenario‐driven climate vulnerability assessment that maps differences in vulnerability of populations within a species' range. Our flexible habitat‐centered synthesis approach leverages available spatial datasets describing projected exposure to vegetation changes due to climate change and other potentially synergistic stressors, reclassifies and weights them based on available estimates of species' sensitivity to these changes, and recombines them to create <1‐km resolution maps of overall species vulnerability and threat‐specific habitat vulnerability. To demonstrate its potential to guide decision‐making, we applied this approach to the Gunnison sage‐grouse (Centrocercus minimus), a federally threatened habitat specialist that depends on sagebrush and mesic habitats that are imperiled by climate change. We mapped six threats forecasted out to the year 2070: direct effects of climate on (1) sagebrush cover loss and (2) mesic habitat drying, indirect changes in invasion risk from (3) pinyon–juniper conifers and (4) annual grasses, and potentially synergistic risk of (5) development and (6) wildfire. We then assessed species vulnerability for each of the eight extant populations under three climate scenarios: Optimistic, Continuation, and Pessimistic. We found that the extent of cumulative species vulnerability due to multiple habitat changes was far greater than the extent of any single habitat vulnerability. Over 75% of critical habitats were at risk under the Pessimistic scenario, and nearly two thirds of habitats were at high risk for three or more threats. Invasive species were the most widespread threat, highlighting the importance of indirect effects of climate change. We illustrate how our approach can be applied to the existing management planning strategies to better prioritize conservation of habitats for the persistence of threatened species.

A Comprehensive Review on the Impact of Climate Change on Fruit Yield and Quality in Modern Horticultural Practices

This review provides an exhaustive analysis of the impact of climate change on fruit yield and quality, with a specific focus on India's horticultural sector. It synthesizes current research findings, identifies gaps, and suggests future directions to understand and mitigate the effects of climate change on key fruit crops. Climate change, characterized by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events, poses significant challenges to fruit production. These challenges under three main sections: the direct and indirect effects of climate change on fruit yield, the influence of climate change on fruit quality, and the adaptations in modern horticultural practices. The direct effects include alterations in flowering and fruiting cycles and changes in pollination dynamics. Indirect effects comprise changes in soil quality and nutrient availability, along with water availability and irrigation challenges. These factors collectively lead to variations in fruit yield across different regions and crops. The review also discusses the impact of climate change on the nutritional content of fruits, such as changes in sugar, acid, vitamin levels, and secondary metabolites that affect flavour and health benefits. Physical and aesthetic changes, including modifications in size, color, texture, and shelf life, are also examined, highlighting their implications for marketability and consumer preference. Adaptation strategies in response to these challenges are crucial. Delves into breeding and genetic modification efforts aimed at developing climate-resilient fruit varieties and discusses the role of biotechnology in these adaptations. It also covers changes in agronomic practices, such as adjustments in planting dates and crop rotation, alongside water management and conservation techniques. The adoption of technological innovations like precision agriculture, monitoring systems, and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is evaluated for their potential to enhance resilience in fruit production.

Climate-sensitive forecasts of marked short-term and long-term changes in the distributions or abundances of Northwestern boreal landbirds

Climate change presents a major threat to biodiversity globally. Northern ecosystems, such as Canada's boreal forest, are predicted to experience particularly severe climate-induced changes. These changes may reduce the carrying capacity and habitat suitability of the boreal forest for many wildlife species. Boreal birds are susceptible to both direct and indirect effects of climate change, and several studies have predicted northward shifts in species distributions as temperatures become warmer. We forecasted spatially-explicit changes in the densities of 72 boreal landbird species using integrated climate change projections and a forest dynamics model in the Taiga Plains ecozone of the Northwest Territories (NT), Canada, over the 2011–2091 horizon. We 1) identified "winner," "loser," and "bellringer" species over short (2031) and long-term (2091) forecasts, 2) mapped landbird range and density changes under three contrasting Global Circulation Models (GCMs), and 3) quantify differences in landbird density predictions across a latitudinal gradient. Species that showed a moderate increase or decrease in their predicted abundance were considered "winners" and "losers," respectively. Species that showed a marked increase or decrease – a doubling or halving – of their predicted abundance in all three GCMs, were termed "bellringers". From 2011–2031, only 2/72 (2.8%) were considered winners, and 3/72 (4.2%) were losers. From 2011–2091, the abundance of more species was predicted to change: 26/72 (36.1%) were winners, and 10/72 species (13.9%) were losers. Four species were considered bellringers: Gray-cheeked Thrush, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, and American Tree Sparrow. Overall, projected range shifts were strongly oriented along a southeast-to-northwest axis. Shifts to the north and south were evenly distributed among all three GCMs. Our results suggest that future climate-mitigated distribution shifts and population declines of boreal landbirds will require targeted conservation actions. They also highlight the importance of the NT as a potential refugium for many boreal-breeding landbird species in Canada.

Adolescents Concerned about Climate Change: A Hermeneutic Study.

Climate change is a public health threat on a global scale. Over the last two decades, research has uncovered the myriad health effects of climate change and its associated costs. The literature is also beginning to show the direct and indirect effects of climate change to be an indicator of increased adverse mental health outcomes including excessive worry, anxiety, grief, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The development of scales to measure some of these effects in adult populations has shown the critical need to understand the various ways climate change affects mental well-being in adolescent populations who are at a critical juncture in psychological development. The purposes of this study were to understand the lived experience of adolescents who are concerned about climate change and uncover the meaning of climate change concern for adolescents as informed by emerging patterns. This study utilized Hermeneutic Phenomenology as a philosophical foundation and methodological approach for data retrieval and analysis. An interview-based approach with a purposeful sample (n = 11, aged 12-17 years) revealed the multi-layered elements of climate change concern and its effects. Three patterns emerged: Climate Change as a Temporal Threat and Pressure, Awareness and Concern as a Continuum, and Experiencing Concern and Making Meaning. These findings may now inform interdisciplinary knowledge on upstream mitigation efforts and the promotion of positive outcomes relating to climate change. The need for focused educational attention to adolescent behaviors and concerns is explicated and exemplified.

42.2 The Direct and Indirect Effects of Climate Change on Children's Mental Health Globally: A Close Look at the Most Vulnerable Children and Environmental Injustice

42.2 The Direct and Indirect Effects of Climate Change on Children's Mental Health Globally: A Close Look at the Most Vulnerable Children and Environmental Injustice

Impact of climate change on allergic diseases in Germany.

Allergic diseases, especially inhalation allergies, have reached epidemic levels and environmental factors play an important role in their development. Climate change influences the occurrence, frequency, and severity of allergic diseases. The contents of this article were selected by the authors and developed section by section according to their expertise and the current state of knowledge. The sections were then discussed and agreed upon amongst all authors. The article highlights direct and indirect effects of climate change on allergies. It goes into detail about the connections between climate change and (new) pollen allergens as well as (new) occupational inhalation allergens, explains the effects of climate change on the clinical picture of atopic dermatitis, discusses the connections between air pollutants and allergies, and provides information about the phenomenon of thunderstorm asthma. There is a need for action in the field of pollen and fungal spore monitoring, allergy and sensitisation monitoring, urban planning from an allergological perspective, and changes in the working environment, among others.

Microorganisms and Climate Change: A Not so Invisible Effect

The effect of climate change on flora and fauna has been widely discussed for years. However, its consequences on microorganisms are generally poorly considered. The main effect of climate change on microbiota is related to biodiversity changes in different regions of the planet, mainly due to variations in temperature. These alterations are resulting in a worldwide (re)distribution of pathogens, which was not considered a few years ago. They mainly affect different food chain sectors (such as agriculture, livestock and fishing), as well as human health. Hence, the spread of numerous animal and plant pathogens has been observed in recent years from south to north (especially in America, Europe and Asia), leading to the spread of numerous plant and animal diseases, which results in economic and ecological losses. In addition, global warming that accompanies climate change could also be related to emerging antibiotic resistance. However, the mitigation of climate change goes hand in hand with microorganisms, which can help us through different natural and industrial processes. Thus, this manuscript presents the direct and indirect effects of climate change on microorganisms described up to date and how they act on this worldwide phenomenon.

Temporal and lake-specific variations in oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes in a boreal lake-chain during two hydrologically differing years

ABSTRACT Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope mass ratios (δ2H and δ18O) are conservative tracers that reflect hydrological conditions of watersheds and lakes, information that can be used for water budgets, such as estimating nutrient loading from the catchments and direct and indirect effects of climate change on waterbodies. We measured δ2H and δ18O values and estimated water mass balances over 2 hydrologically differing years in a chain of 10 boreal lakes. During a warm and dry summer, evaporative loss enriched the isotope values at lake surfaces. Thus, in lakes that were thermally stratified during summer, the isotope values differed distinctively between epilimnion and hypolimnion. During the following rainy summer, the within-lake variation of isotope values was much lower with no clear trend, presumably a result of a more unstable water column and faster water throughflow in the lake chain. After autumnal mixing the lake δ18O values were strongly correlated with lake area and proportion of inland waters of the catchment area. The interannual within-lake difference was then ∼1‰, indicating differences in evaporation. Isotope mass balance (IMB) calculations and those based on lake temperature and hydrological measurements in the nearby region yielded similar results for the rainy ice-free period. Presumably, prerequisites of steady-state conditions for IMB were better met in the rainy year than during the previous drier year. For some lakes the results suggested remarkable volumes of groundwater inflow, whose role in boreal lake water budgets deserves more attention in future studies.

A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon in the Anthropocene

Anthropogenic activities profoundly impact soil organic carbon (SOC), affecting its contribution to ecosystem services such as climate regulation. Here, we conducted a thorough review of the impacts of land-use change, land management, and climate change on SOC. Using second-order meta-analysis, we synthesized findings from 230 first-order meta-analyses comprising over 25,000 primary studies. We show that (i) land conversion for crop production leads to high SOC loss, that can be partially restored through land management practices, particularly by introducing trees and incorporating exogenous carbon in the form of biochar or organic amendments, (ii) land management practices that are implemented in forests generally result in depletion of SOC, and (iii) indirect effects of climate change, such as through wildfires, have a greater impact on SOC than direct climate change effects (e.g., from rising temperatures). The findings of our study provide strong evidence to assist decision-makers in safeguarding SOC stocks and promoting land management practices for SOC restoration. Furthermore, they serve as a crucial research roadmap, identifying areas that require attention to fill the knowledge gaps concerning the factors driving changes in SOC.

Decreasing elevational gradient in peak photosynthesis timing on the Tibetan Plateau

The Tibetan Plateau has experienced elevation-dependent climate warming, which has profoundly influenced the seasonal dynamics of plant growth. However, how peak photosynthesis timing (DOYPmax), a key component of plant growth seasonality, responds to climate change on the Tibetan Plateau remains unclear. Here, we investigated the change in the elevational gradient in DOYPmax on the Tibetan Plateau during 2001–2018 and its drivers. We mapped the primary climatic constraint on plant photosynthesis and found that it was temperature at 3000–4000 m a.s.l. in the central and eastern parts but soil water at 4000–5000 m a.s.l. in the southwestern part. DOYPmax increased by 1.0 ± 0.1 days/100 m with increasing elevation from 3000 to 5000 m a.s.l., but the elevational gradient in DOYPmax decreased by -0.8 ± 0.2 days/100 m/decade during 2001–2018 due to both direct and indirect effects of climate change. Specifically, at 3000–4000 m a.s.l., DOYPmax was delayed because of the direct effect of the increase in soil water. At 4000–5000 m a.s.l., DOYPmax advanced due to the warming-induced earlier green-up date in the central plateau and the drought-induced later spring phenology in the southwestern plateau. Such a change in plant growth seasonality should alter seasonal carbon cycle of alpine ecosystems, summer diets of the migrant herbivores and alpine plant–animal interactions along elevation gradients, but further efforts are needed to clarify how herbivores that migrate long distances, e.g., Tibetan antelope, adapt to changes in the elevational gradient in peak plant growth timing.

Cascading, interactive, and indirect effects of climate change on aquatic communities, habitats, and ecosystems

AbstractClimate‐change is rapidly and intensively altering aquatic communities and habitats. While previous work has focused on direct effects of potential drivers, indirect and interactive effects on organisms and ecosystems have received less attention. Here, we give an overview of contributions to a special issue in Limnology and Oceanography that addresses this knowledge gap. Contributions covered diverse habitats, from polar to tropical regions, alpine streams to coral reefs. Several studies relied on time‐series to identify indirect effects, thus emphasizing our need to maintain high‐quality time‐series data. Time‐series are particularly crucial now that the pace of climate‐change on aquatic‐ecosystems is accelerating. Another common theme is the role of species‐specific characteristics in physiology, behavior or genetics in aquatic ecosystem function. The addition of inter‐ and intra‐specific variability to investigations of climate‐change may be challenging particularly since ecosystem studies typically involve a large parameter space of environmental and biological variables across spatial and temporal scales. However, the results demonstrate that inclusion of species‐specific dynamics, although challenging, can deliver mechanistic insights into aquatic ecosystem patterns and processes. Some contributions leverage habitat changes from disturbances or climate shifts to document capacity for resilience or recovery of pelagic and benthic communities. Jointly, the results in this special issue document fruitful approaches and provide urgent information needed for deciphering aquatic ecosystem responses to climate forcings. This information is foundational if we wish to tackle the combined effects of climate change and other human impacts with maximum efficacy and minimize unintended consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

The road to integrate climate change projections with regional land‐use–biodiversity models

Abstract Current approaches to project spatial biodiversity responses to climate change mainly focus on the direct effects of climate on species while regarding land use and land cover as constant or prescribed by global land‐use scenarios. However, local land‐use decisions are often affected by climate change and biodiversity on top of socioeconomic and policy drivers. To realistically understand and predict climate impacts on biodiversity, it is, therefore, necessary to integrate both direct and indirect effects (via climate‐driven land‐use change) of climate change on biodiversity. In this perspective paper, we outline how biodiversity models could be better integrated with regional, climate‐driven land‐use models. We initially provide a short, non‐exhaustive review of empirical and modelling approaches to land‐use and land‐cover change (LU) and biodiversity (BD) change at regional scales, which forms the base for our perspective about improved integration of LU and BD models. We consider a diversity of approaches, with a special emphasis on mechanistic models. We also look at current levels of integration and at model properties, such as scales, inputs and outputs, to further identify integration challenges and opportunities. We find that LU integration in BD models is more frequent than the other way around and has been achieved at different levels: from overlapping predictions to simultaneously coupled simulations (i.e. bidirectional effects). Of the integrated LU‐BD socio‐ecological models, some studies included climate change effects on LU, but the relative contribution of direct vs. indirect effects of climate change on BD remains a key research challenge. Important research avenues include concerted efforts in harmonizing spatial and temporal resolution, disentangling direct and indirect effects of climate change on biodiversity, explicitly accounting for bidirectional feedbacks, and ultimately feeding socio‐ecological systems back into climate predictions. These avenues can be navigated by matching models, plugins for format and resolution conversion, and increasing the land‐use forecast horizon with adequate uncertainty. Recent developments of coupled models show that such integration is achievable and can lead to novel insights into climate–land use–biodiversity relations. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The Impact of Climate Change on International Trade

Climate change is an important and multifaceted international phenomenon. This phenomenon opposes danger in all aspects of political, social and economic life. One of the major effects of climate change is that it threatens the future of human existence on earth. In this regard, International Meteorological Organization (IMO) confirmed that the average global temperature rise will be 4°C by 2060 which affects negatively the global stability, as well as making obstacles that drive to discontinuing food and water supplies at the global level. Based on the above, this study seeks to answer the following main question: What is the impact and relationship of climate change on international trade? In order to answer this question, this study aims to explain the methods and procedures taken in the General Agreements on Tariff and Trade (GATT) to face climate change; and the methods and procedures taken in the Technical Barriers to Trade and Standers (TBT). The research problem is centered in the presence of an overlap between international trade, climate change and the seriousness of the effects that occur from climate change on all aspects of life. Especially, there are direct and indirect effects of climate change on international trade due to the expansion of this trade, which leads to an increase in the emission of greenhouse gases which causes Global Warming. The importance of this research comes from the impact of climate change on the international trade. this overlap may cause conflict between climate change policies and international trade due to the increasing of this trade, which leads to an augment in the emission of greenhouse gases which causes Global Warming, the role of the global policies on climate change policies threatens to leak carbon and find a haven for pollution in developing countries, given: that there is an increase in international trade. The framework of international economic integration. In this research article, an analytical research methodology was used to illustrate the impact of climate change on international trade. Finally, this article comes out with several important results and recommendations.

Long‐term responses to large‐scale disturbances: spatiotemporal variation in gastropod populations and communities

The Anthropocene is characterized by complex, primarily human‐generated, disturbance regimes that include combinations of long‐term press (e.g. climate change, pollution) and episodic pulse (e.g. cyclonic storms, floods, wildfires, land use change) disturbances. Within any regime, disturbances occur at multiple spatial and temporal scales, creating complex and varied interactions that influence spatiotemporal dynamics in the abundance, distribution and biodiversity of organisms. Moreover, responses to disturbance are context dependent, with the legacies of previous disturbances affecting responses to ensuing perturbations. We use three decades of annual data to evaluate the effects of repeated pulse disturbances and global warming on gastropod populations and communities in Puerto Rico at multiple spatial scales. More specifically, we quantify 1) the relative importance of large‐scale and small‐scale aspects of disturbance on variation in abundance, biodiversity and species composition; and 2) the spatial scales at which populations and communities integrate information in the spatially heterogenous environments created by disturbances. Gastropods do not exhibit consistent decreases in abundance or biodiversity in association with global warming: abundance for many species has increased over time and species richness does not evince a temporal trend. Nonetheless, gastropods are sensitive to hurricane severity, spatial environmental variation and successional trajectories of the flora. In addition, they exhibit context dependent (i.e. legacy effects) responses that are scale dependent. The Puerto Rican biota has evolved in a disturbance‐mediated system. This historical exposure to repeated, severe hurricane‐induced disturbances has imbued the biota with high resistance and resilience to the current disturbance regime, resulting in an ability to persist or thrive under current environmental conditions. Nonetheless, these ecosystems may yet be threatened by worsening direct and indirect effects of climate change. In particular, more frequent and severe hurricanes may prevent the establishment of closed canopy forests, negatively impacting populations and communities that rely on these habitats.

The Effects of Climate Change on Mental Health.

All over the world, climate change is exerting negative and complex effects on human living conditions and health. In this narrative review, we summarize the current global evidence regarding the effects of climate change on mental health. A systematic literature search concerning the direct effects of acute extreme weather events (floods, storms, fires) and chronic stresses (heat, drought) due to climate change, as well as the indirect effects of climate change (food insecurity, migration), on the diagnoses of mental disorders, psychological distress, and psychiatric emergency admissions was carried out in PubMed and PsychInfo, and supplemented by expert selection. 1017 studies were identified, and 128 were included. The heterogeneity of study methods does not permit any overall estimate of effect strength. The available evidence shows that traumatic experiences due to extreme weather events increase the risk of affective and anxiety disorders, especially the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder. Heat significantly increases the morbidity and mortality attributable to mental illness, as well as the frequency of psychiatric emergencies. Persistent stressors such as drought, food insecurity, and migration owing to climate change can also be major risk factors for mental illness. The consequences of climate change are stress factors for mental health. Therefore, as global warming progresses, an increasing incidence and prevalence of mental illness is to be expected. Vulnerable groups, such as the (already) mentally ill, children, and adolescents, need to be protected. At the same time, there is a need for further systematic research on the mechanisms of action and effects of climate change on mental function.

Sedimentary Ancient DNA Reveals Local Vegetation Changes Driven by Glacial Activity and Climate

Disentangling the effects of glaciers and climate on vegetation is complicated by the confounding role that climate plays in both systems. We reconstructed changes in vegetation occurring over the Holocene at Jøkelvatnet, a lake located directly downstream from the Langfjordjøkel glacier in northern Norway. We used a sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) metabarcoding dataset of 38 samples from a lake sediment core spanning 10,400 years using primers targeting the P6 loop of the trnL (UAA) intron. A total of 193 plant taxa were identified revealing a pattern of continually increasing richness over the time period. Vegetation surveys conducted around Jøkelvatnet show a high concordance with the taxa identified through sedaDNA metabarcoding. We identified four distinct vegetation assemblage zones with transitions at ca. 9.7, 8.4 and 4.3 ka with the first and last mirroring climatic shifts recorded by the Langfjordjøkel glacier. Soil disturbance trait values of the vegetation increased with glacial activity, suggesting that the glacier had a direct impact on plants growing in the catchment. Temperature optimum and moisture trait values correlated with both glacial activity and reconstructed climatic variables showing direct and indirect effects of climate change on the vegetation. In contrast to other catchments without an active glacier, the vegetation at Jøkelvatnet has displayed an increased sensitivity to climate change throughout the Middle and Late Holocene. Beyond the direct impact of climate change on arctic and alpine vegetation, our results suggest the ongoing disappearance of glaciers will have an additional effect on plant communities.

Вплив змін клімату на плодові рослини у контексті глобальних досліджень

The purpose of this study was to analyze global achievements in the study of the direct and indirect effects of climate change on fruit plants, their phenology, yield, physiological responses to stress events, changes in pest insect populations, the spread of diseases, economic consequences, consumer habits, and outline directions for further research. The work methodology included searching and summarizing publications in popular scientific databases and journals. The analysis of scientific literature shows that temperature increase, water and temperature stress can cause a disorder in the development of plants and make important changes in the chemical composition of fruits and yield. Preserving the genetic diversity of plant species that have higher resistance to climate change is important for future breeding. Studies have also confirmed the complexity of the interaction of plants with the environment and their adaptation to abiotic stress. Physiological processes, such as photosynthesis and carbon distribution, under the influence of stressors can be manifested at different stages of plant growth, which is important for their reproductive processes. Further research into crop diversification strategies and effective land use practices to adapt to climate change are important aspects to be thoroughly explored. The development and implementation of new horticultural systems based on biotic intensification aims to ensure environmentally safe production and support. Ukraine, taking into account agro-industrial specialization, faces significant climatic risks, which can lead to serious consequences for agricultural production and the country's economy. Research results indicate the need for accelerated adaptation and development of effective measures to preserve natural resources and ensure sustainable development. Attention is drawn to the research of innovative approaches to the consumption of energy and food resources aimed at reducing gas emissions and improving environmental sustainability. Key words: weather factors, fruit crops, pests and diseases, phenology, stressful events, adaptation, genetic diversity, agriculture, economic consequences, consumer habits.