Coastal and marine communities worldwide face unprecedented challenges due to the

impacts of climate change. As temperatures surge on a worldwide scale, sea levels rise
(Devlin et al., 2017), and weather patterns exhibit greater unpredictability (Robinson,
2021), these communities discover themselves at the forefront of environmental
transformations. This paper delves into the extensive and diverse effects of climate
change on these communities. These encompass a spectrum of challenges stretching
from the rise in sea levels and the occurrence of extreme weather events to disruptions
in both livelihoods and ecosystems. By meticulously scrutinizing scientific research
based on real-world instances, our objective is to highlight the pressing necessity for
strategies aimed at both mitigating and adapting to these changes. These strategies are
imperative for safeguarding the welfare of these susceptible communities and the
invaluable ecosystems they rely upon.
Body
It should be acknowledged that while some impacts of climate change on marine
systems and their surroundings are deeply investigated, others, namely changes to
wind patterns and water currents are under-explored. Wind and ocean patterns are
expected to intensify or lessen as a consequence of climate change which potentially
trigger geophysical and societal effects (Fernandino et al., 2018). For instance, Franco
et al. (2020) report evidence suggesting the intensification of the Brazilian currents has
caused the poleward shifting of commercially important fish fauna such as the Brazilian
sardine. However, species redistribution is not the only implication of this phenomenon
since long-term records reveal the collapse of the harvested clam populations due to
mass mortalities. Additionally, a change to the vertical movement of ocean water may
alter the distribution and availability of dissolved nutrients and oxygen which is directly
linked to phytoplankton activity and primary production in marine systems. WHAT IS
THE SOURCE?
Moreover, according to Ward et al. (2017), the implications of climate change
extend to coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests in the form of sea level rise
(SLR). Sea level rise is a major climate change threat to mangrove forests since these
transition zones are susceptible to inundation duration, degree of sedimentation, and
salinity levels that exceed the species-specific optimum and requirement. Bryan-Brown
et al. (2020), state that mangrove forests affected by sea level rise have higher through-
flow of tidal water thus increasing sediment erosion. This directly affects the mangroves’
resilience and ability to accrete and grow. Additionally, the biological integrity of affected
mangrove ecosystems is compromised by biodiversity loss of birds and estuarine fish
which utilize the ecosystem as foraging, breeding, or nesting grounds.

Temperature is very important to marine communities because it influences growth,

metabolism, animal behavior, reproduction, etc. However, the increasing temperature
over years has resulted in fatal consequences. For instance, the oxygen concentration
of water is affected by temperature, which is critical for aquatic life's viability. Some
species, like striped bass, which may seek colder waters, may have limited habitat
options due to high temperatures and low oxygen levels. However, the cooler, deeper
waters may lack sufficient oxygen, causing stress and mortality in these species
(Kennedy et al., 2002).
 In addition, modifications to the hydrologic and precipitation regimes can
affect coastal ecosystems. Reducing precipitation and runoff, with rising sea levels, can
cause saline encroachment into estuaries, impacting lower-salinity organism groups.
Due to the decrease in freshwater delivery, food webs are altered, pollutants and
nutrients have different residence times. (Kennedy et al., 2002)

Additionally, seawater carbon dioxide and inorganic carbon levels are rising due to
increased atmospheric CO2 levels brought on by the burning of fossil fuels,
deforestation, agriculture, and land-use practices, which lower pH levels and alters acid-
base chemistry in open-ocean waters.WHAT IS THE SOURCE? This has wide-ranging
biological effects, such as modifications to organism physiology, population dynamics,
communities, and ecosystems. Ecosystem services such as fisheries, aquaculture, and
coastal protection may be in danger if acidification and other environmental pressures
imposed by climate change are coupled (Doney et al., 2020).

According to Suchanek (1994),because of the increase in human population, more

resources are being utilized to support the population, which is having a significant
impact on the coastal and marine communities. For example, habitat loss and the
introduction of invasive species. Because they are difficult to access, these
deteriorations frequently go unreported. Stresses on coastal marine ecosystems
emerge at the species level but increase across the ecosystem due to complicated
interconnections between species at different trophic levels. A missing species or group
impacted by a local contaminant may have unanticipated repercussions, perhaps
resulting in species extinction.