Question for anyone who knows science!?

Question

Alright, just a quick question.

Which ecosystems are affected by carbon dioxide emissions?

P.S. It would be very helpful if you can give me a link to a website that has info about it. I have to print some research.

Thanks guys!

Answer 1

Dukester:  Plants love carbon dioxide.  To them it is food.  The more the merrier.  

Look up plant pathology and you'll find that I am telling you the absolute truth.

Answer 2

It's complicated because there are direct effects and indirect effects (from global warming).  Here's by far the best summary, an an excerpt:

http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM6avr07.pdf

Based on growing evidence, there is high confidence that the following types of hydrological systems are

being affected around the world:

• increased run-off and earlier spring peak discharge in many glacier- and snow-fed rivers [1.3];

• warming of lakes and rivers in many regions, with effects on thermal structure and water quality

[1.3].

There is very high confidence, based on more evidence from a wider range of species, that recent warming is

strongly affecting terrestrial biological systems, including such changes as:

• earlier timing of spring events, such as leaf-unfolding, bird migration and egg-laying [1.3];

• poleward and upward shifts in ranges in plant and animal species [1.3, 8.2, 14.2].

Based on satellite observations since the early 1980s, there is high confidence that there has been a trend in

many regions towards earlier ‘greening’5 of vegetation in the spring linked to longer thermal growing

seasons due to recent warming. [1.3, 14.2]

There is high confidence, based on substantial new evidence, that observed changes in marine and freshwater

biological systems are associated with rising water temperatures, as well as related changes in ice cover,

salinity, oxygen levels and circulation [1.3]. These include:

• shifts in ranges and changes in algal, plankton and fish abundance in high-latitude oceans [1.3];

• increases in algal and zooplankton abundance in high-latitude and high-altitude lakes [1.3];

• range changes and earlier migrations of fish in rivers [1.3].

The uptake of anthropogenic carbon since 1750 has led to the ocean becoming more acidic with an average

decrease in pH of 0.1 units [IPCC Working Group I Fourth Assessment]. However, the effects of observed

ocean acidification on the marine biosphere are as yet undocumented. [1.3]