environmental change

Environmental change refers to the alteration of Earth's climate due to shifts in the atmosphere and interactions within the Earth system. All living organisms are affected by climate and its changes, adapting through behaviors like dormancy or shedding leaves. While daily weather fluctuates, climate describes average atmospheric conditions over longer periods.1

Ecological resilience is an ecosystem's capacity to maintain its functions, like nutrient cycling, after experiencing disturbances. These disturbances can be natural (e.g., hurricanes) or human-induced (e.g., pollution, overfishing). Habitat loss, the reduction or elimination of a species' living space, is a major driver of biodiversity decline and can result from human development and pollution. Climate change, driven by increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, poses a significant challenge to ecosystems, potentially magnifying the impact of natural disturbances and altering recovery rates.2314