The impact of climate change on ecosystems and ecological communities is undeniable, but researchers have been curious about why some communities are more capable of withstanding its effects than others. To explore this question further, a recent study conducted by the University of Helsinki focused on virtually all bird species in North America, analyzing changes in community composition and diversity over a span of 50 years from 1966 to 2016. The findings of the study demonstrated that bird communities with greater species diversity and functional variety exhibited less drastic changes in community composition as a result of climate change during the study period.
Emma-Liina Marjakangas, a community ecologist at Helsinki, illustrated that having a variety of birds such as birds of prey, insectivores, and seed-eaters in a community can provide better protection against the harmful effects of climate change.
As per the experts, diversity within a community can act as a shield against the harmful effects of climate change. This is especially true during the winter season, which has experienced the most intense warming trends in the Northern Hemisphere. On the other hand, biodiversity appears to have a relatively minor impact during the breeding season.
According to Aleksi Lehikoinen, an expert in Ecology and Ornithology at the university, the adaptability of a species to change its breeding and wintering areas is determined by its habitat and available food. For instance, grassland species have been slower in shifting their distributions northwards compared to other birds like forest passerines such as the American robin or generalists like the mourning dove. This trend is mainly due to the fact that diverse bird communities play a vital role in maintaining ecosystems through seed dispersal, pest insect control, and pollination. However, climate change is disrupting the composition of these communities, which puts their ability to provide these essential ecosystem services at risk.
According to Marjakangas, it is crucial to address both the biodiversity and climate crises simultaneously to avoid compounding effects since our findings support the idea that ecosystem functioning is protected by biodiversity.
