BIOLOGICAL TRENDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN

ANTHROPOCENE

ADVANCED TOPICS IN AGRO METEOROLOGY & NATURAL RISK

MANAGEMENT

SHAFI ABDELLA TUKO

FEBRUARY 2021

HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY, ETHIOPIA

 Biological Trends and Climate Change in Anthropocene

A Paper Presented for the Course: Graduate Seminar on

Current Topics in Agro Meteorology & Natural Risk Management
(AMNM 552)

HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY
College of Agriculture and Environmental Science
School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences
Master’s Program in Agro Meteorology & Natural Risk Management

Shafi Abdella Tuko

Major Advisor: Mengistu M (PhD)

February 2021
Haramaya University, Ethiopia
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my advisors Dr. Mengistu Mengesha for his
priceless assistance, efforts unreserved support, guidance, encouragement and information
respectively to make me familiar with course matter during when he taught me the course.
And also, I would like to express my genuine gratitude for his constructive criticism
throughout the seminar work.
 iii

ABBREVIATIONS

GHG Greenhouse Gases

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

 iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...........................................................................................................................ii

ABBREVIATIONS.....................................................................................................................................iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS.............................................................................................................................iv

SUMMARY..............................................................................................................................................v

1. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................1

2. INFLUENCE OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES................................................................................................2

2.1. Effect of Anthropogenic activities on Biodiversity and Climate..............................................2

2.2. Human Activities that Influence on Biodiversity.....................................................................2

2.2.1. Over-exploitation............................................................................................................2

2.2.2. Habitat changes..............................................................................................................3

2.2.3. Climate change, invasive species, and pollution.............................................................3

2.3. Land use change and Modification by Anthropogenic Activities............................................3

2.3.1. Industrialization..............................................................................................................4

2.3.2. Expansion of agriculture and Deforestation...................................................................4

2.3.3. Urbanization...................................................................................................................4

2.3.4. Environmental degradation............................................................................................5

2.4. Climate change and its impact................................................................................................5

2.5. Mitigation and Adaptation of Climate Change.......................................................................6

3. CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................7

4. REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................8
 v

SUMMARY

Human beings have a responsible for the changing in our Earth atmosphere from time to
time. Human activities can be influence our system over time through releasing GHGs
emission, changing land use, these lead to changing of climate that loss of biodiversity. The
key causes for today problems that influenced by human kind activities through urbanization,
industrialization, expansion of agriculture, and environmental degradation. That can causing
the loss of biodiversity through over exploitations, habitat change, climate change, invasive
species and pollution. Mitigation refers to the elimination or reduction of the frequency,
magnitude, and minimization of the potential impact of a threat or warning by using
renewable energies, energy & water efficiency, sustainable transportation , sustainable
infrastructure, sustainable agriculture & forest management, responsible consumption &
recycling. Adaptive capacity is ability adjust to climate change (including climate variability
and extremes) to moderate potential damages, and to cope with the consequences.

Key words: anthropocene, biodiversity loss, climate change, land use change,
environmental degradation, mitigation and adaptation.
 1. INTRODUCTION

Later the industrial revolution, unmatched human activities have modified the environment to
the extent that this period has been termed the anthropocene (Li-An et al., 2018). Human
activities change the landscape through urbanization, industrial development, changes in
agricultural practices and intensity which alter the composition of earth’s atmosphere and
natural landscape (Li-An et al., 2018); the scarring of the landscape interrelated with
industrialization may appear as transformation (Zalasiewicz et al., 2010). The Anthropocene
is challenging the recognized conceptions of biogeography (Hill & Hadly, 2018).

The basic that human activity is having a dominating presence on multiple aspects of the
natural world and the functioning of the Earth system (Malhi, 2017). Ecosystem processes,
functions and services are a product of the activities of the communities of organisms that
reside in a given system (Seddon et al., 2016). Most persistent anthropogenic threats to
biodiversity are over-exploitation, habitat changes, climate change, invasive species, and
pollution (Pelletier & Coltman, 2018); in an age of widespread disturbance, global commerce,
and a rapidly changing climate, some species have ability to access new and vast areas while
others disappear along with the environments to which they are adapted (Hill & Hadly, 2018).

The global and prevalent nature of the change; the complicated nature of global change
beyond just climate change, including biodiversity decline and species mixing across
continents, alteration of global biogeochemical cycles and large-scale resource extraction and
waste production; and major shift in the functioning of our planet as a whole (Malhi, 2017).
The review would be limited to assess in human activities influence on biodiversity and
changing on our climate system that affects at regional, national and global level through time
to time. Because of the main causes of our system is influenced by human kind action (for e.g.
releasing greenhouse effects and changing in land use practices that leads to loss of
biodiversity and climate change). The key causes for today problems that affected by human
kind activities that are urbanization, industrialization, expansion of agriculture, and
environmental degradation. The objective of this paper to review the influence of human
activities on biological trends and climate change in anthropocene.
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2. INFLUENCE OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES

2.1........................................... Effect of Anthropogenic activities on Biodiversity and Climate

Human activities alter the landscape through urbanization, industrial development, changes in
agricultural practices and intensity (Li-An et al., 2018); through the agriculture and the
industrial revolution (Malhi, 2017). Anthropocene is humans have become the single most
influential species on the planet, causing significant global warming and other changes to
land, environment, water, organisms and the atmosphere; we are living in a new geological
time which influence on its systems, environment, processes and biodiversity (Katie Pavid,
2000).

2.2.................................................................... Human Activities that Influence on Biodiversity

The prevalence of human influences the fundamental processes that reinforce biological
change (Thomas, 2020). The world’s biological diversity is changing, through evolutionary
change at both the within and between species levels due to human actions (Otto, 2018).
Human impacts on the environment in the anthropogenic threaten biodiversity and ecosystem
services (Russell & Kueffer, 2019). The relationship between over-exploitation, abundance,
extinction, and species-level biodiversity loss (Pelletier & Coltman, 2018).

2.2.1. Over-exploitation

Over-exploitation is one of the main threats to biodiversity and may cause genetic restrict in
abundant species and thus directly impact take place in biodiversity (Pelletier & Coltman,
2018); declining genetic diversity and localized ecological disasters (Otto, 2018). The
relations between over-exploitation, abundance, extinction, and species-level biodiversity loss
(Pelletier & Coltman, 2018). Extinctions are caused by overexploitation, with humans hunting
to extinction species (Otto, 2018).
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2.2.2. Habitat changes

Loss of habitat, modifications in land use, degradation and fragmentation of habitat patches,
can all reduce population size and inhibit connectivity among populations (Otto, 2018;
Pelletier & Coltman, 2018); habitat fragmentation leads to smaller population sizes and
reduced gene flow (Hendry et al., 2017; Thomas, 2020). Rapid environmental change,
selection favours increased mutation rates, particularly within clonal organisms (Otto, 2018).
Populations inhabiting highly fragmented landscapes had significantly reduced genetic
diversity (Otto, 2018; Pelletier & Coltman, 2018). Species have also spread because humans
actively accelerate the rates at which species immigrate into new areas (Thomas, 2020) and
species’ ranges shift at different rates in response to anthropogenic habitat alteration and
climate change (Otto, 2018).

2.2.3. Climate change, invasive species, and pollution

Global warming and climate change is centered on the anthropogenic greenhouse effect; this
is caused by the emission and accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere; these
gases are water vapor, CO2, CH4, N2O, O3, and others act by absorbing and emitting infrared
radiation and also the combustion of fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) has led mainly to
an increase in the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere (Lacknera et al., 2017). The rising
population also leads to huge production of wastes; and thus, increased pressure on arable
lands, losses of biodiversity, pollution of air and water (SimachewBantigegn, 2020). Invasive
species are a major element of global change and are contributing to biodiversity loss,
ecosystem degradation, and impairment of ecosystem services worldwide (Petr Pyšek et al.,
2010). Environmental pollution refers to the degradation of quality and quantity of natural
resources which caused by human activities through the waste products, smoke emitted by
vehicles and industries are the main causes of pollution (Tyagi Swati et al., 2014).

2.3......................................... Land use change and Modification by Anthropogenic Activities

Land use changes through deforestation, and urbanization (BelayZerga & GetanehGebeyehu,
2016) and urbanization, industrial development and agricultural practices (Li-An et al., 2018)
 4

and that result in GHG release which also contribute to increase the atmospheric temperature;
deforestation increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, because when forests which act
as major carbon store leading to global warming (BelayZerga & GetanehGebeyehu, 2016);
the alteration of land use that lead to biodiversity loss (Malhi, 2017).

2.3.1. Industrialization

Industrialization is the process of transforming an economy from a primary sector to a

manufacturing sector and with the rise in the number of factories being built globally there is
an increase in air pollution, resulting in more greenhouse gases being released into the
atmosphere (Li-An et al., 2018). At global scale, the main cause of greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions is from carbon dioxide (70%), primarily from burning of fossil fuel (petroleum)
imported from industrialized countries (BelayZerga & GetanehGebeyehu, 2016); the release
of greenhouse gasses, especially CO2, resulting in climate change (Thomas, 2020).

2.3.2. Expansion of agriculture and Deforestation

Climate change affects agriculture and agriculture also affects climate change (EEA, 2015;
BelayZerga & GetanehGebeyehu, 2016). Deforestation is major contributors to climate
change (BelayZerga & GetanehGebeyehu, 2016); global warming (Maurya et al., 2020).
Deforestation is the destruction of forested areas (BelayZerga & GetanehGebeyehu, 2016);
forest land to use agriculture, animal grazing, harvests for fuel wood and industries (Maurya
et al., 2020). The main direct drivers of deforestation are to expansion of agriculture and
infrastructure; and also sources for GHG are methane and nitrous oxide caused by
deforestation and agricultural activities (BelayZerga & GetanehGebeyehu, 2016).

2.3.3. Urbanization

The process of urbanization has significant implications for changes in demographic

characteristics and transformation of the physical landscape (Patra et al., 2018); it’s generally
that lead to environmental alterations and thus, change causes growth of several species which
affects ecosystem services (Hendry et al., 2017). The narrow arrangement of buildings along
 5

streets, constrains reflected radiation from escaping into space (Li-An et al., 2018); that
reflection effect on climate (Patra et al., 2018). The effect of urbanization on habitat
degradation that change in wild species (Pelletier & Coltman, 2018); urbanization and later
changes in land use and land cover has severe adverse effects for the local ecology; can be
cause impacts on various environmental components and also serious social and
environmental challenges (Patra et al., 2018). Unplanned and rapid expansion of urban
creating huge pressure on natural resources (Patra et al., 2018; SimachewBantigegn, 2020).

2.3.4. Environmental degradation

The major factor of environmental degradation is human such as modern urbanization,

industrialization, overpopulation growth, deforestation, etc.; unplanned urbanization and
industrialization have caused water, air, soil, and sound pollution is also having a useful
aspect, more new genes have been created, and some species have grown as someone’s have
declined and human activity is the main driver's power (Maurya et al., 2020). And also effects
of environmental degradation such as: land, water and air pollution; desertification, shortage
of water; carbon emitting excess, global warming, and melting glaciers; loss of biodiversity,
forest and grassland (Maurya et al., 2020).

2.4...................................................................................................Climate change and its impact

Climate variability and change are among the major environmental challenges of the 21 st
century (BelayTseganeh, 2014). Climate change is a change of climate which depend on
directly or indirectly to human activities; it alters the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere
and the types of changes such as temperature, rainfall, occurrence of extremes, magnitude and
rate of the climate change (BelayZerga & GetanehGebeyehu, 2016); frequency and intensity
of extreme weather events (HaileabZegeye, 2018). Global emissions of climate pollutants,
including carbon dioxide and black carbon, are driving climate change; if current rates of
emissions continue, mean annual temperature is projected to rise by about 4.8°C from 1990-
2100 (Lunyak, 2020) and scenarios reaching atmospheric CO2 concentrations of about 450 to
about 500 ppm by 2100 (IPCC, 2014).
 6

Climate change is expected to increase heat waves, droughts, flooding, and sea levels around
the world, and also cause important health risks (Lunyak, 2020) and influenced through
increases in average temperature and changes in precipitation (Dalelo, 2012; Lunyak, 2020).
This threatens health, livelihoods and transmittable diseases, food insecurity and poverty
(Lunyak, 2020); it can influence humans directly impacts on health and the risk of extreme
events on lives and livelihoods and indirectly impacts on food security and the viability of
natural resource-based economic activity (BelayZerga & GetanehGebeyehu, 2016).

2.5.......................................................................Mitigation and Adaptation of Climate Change

According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or IPCC (2007) definition and

some technology, mitigation refers to the elimination or reduction of the frequency,
magnitude, or severity of exposure to environmental, economic, legal, or social risks, or
minimization of the potential impact of a threat or warning. Energy Supply-Efficiency; fuel
switching; renewable (hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal and bioenergy); combined heat
and power; early applications of CO2 Capture and Storage. Transport-More fuel efficient
vehicles; hybrid vehicles; biofuels; modal shifts from road transport to rail and public
transport systems; cycling, walking; land-use planning. Buildings-Efficient lighting; efficient
appliances; improved insulation; solar heating and cooling. Industry-More efficient electrical
equipment; heat and power recovery; material recycling; control of non-CO2 gas emissions.
Agriculture-Land management to increase soil carbon storage; restoration of degraded lands;
improved rice cultivation techniques; improved nitrogen fertilizer application; dedicated
energy crops. Forests-Afforestation; reforestation; forest management; reduced deforestation;
use of forestry products for bioenergy. Waste-Landfill methane recovery; waste incineration
with energy recovery; composting; recycling and waste minimization. Adaptive capacity is
defined by the as the ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate
variability and extremes) to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities,
or to cope with the consequences. Such as water, ecosystems, food, coastal systems, industry,
health, region-specific (IPCC, 2007).
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3. CONCLUSION

In general, human activities are the main causes of our system effect. Biodiversity or
diversity of all living things on our planet, has been declining at an alarming rate mainly
due to human activities, such as land use change (e.g. expansion of agriculture and
deforestation, urbanization etc.), habitat change (e.g. species migrate and disappear),
pollution (e.g. waste product and other dust particles, that pollute water and air),
overexploitation (e.g. hunting and overfishing), climate change (e.g. increase temperature
that lead to global warming). And also environmental degradation which due to human
activities such as modern urbanization, industrialization, overpopulation growth,
deforestation. Finally, we need to apply proper technology that used to reduce the effect of
climate change and to moderate potential damages through mitigation and adaptation to
climate change; by using renewable energies, energy & water efficiency, sustainable
transportation, sustainable infrastructure, sustainable agriculture & forest management,
responsible consumption & recycling.
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