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Impact of climate change on sea level, bioresources, biodiversity, marine invasive
species, ecology and food web: Past, present, and future
Öztürk
1*
M. & V. Altay
2
1
Vice President of “The Islamic World Academy of Sciences” and
Botany Department-Centre for
Environmental Studies, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
2
Biology Department, Faculty of Science and Arts, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey
*
E-mail: munirozturk@gmail.com
Abstract
Caspian is the largest enclosed brackish inland water system, rich in oil and gas, with salinity up to
13.7 percent, experiencing significant changes in water level and embodying diversified habitats from
vast river systems to extensive wetlands. The presence of large shallow areas pose a potential threat
to biodiversity and especially endemics in the sea. Its biodiversity together with the coastal zone
make it one of the most valuable ecosystems in the world. Biological endemism
rate in the Caspian is
extremely high. Most important species is the sturgeon, with a standing stock of 85 percent. Illegal
and overfishing are dramatically reducing its population size. Loss of spawning grounds and nesting
sites follows the sea-level changes. Pollution and introduced species are also effective. Caspian lies
on the crossing of migration routes of millions of migrating birds and offers refuge
to a number of
rare and endangered ones. Threats like regulation of its rivers are leading to a loss of reeds, cattail
and bushes, as well as aquatic and coastal fauna. A detailed ecological survey of the coastal and
marine species
and habitats, their uses, values and threats, all along the Caspian Coast is needed.
Some anadromous and semi-migratory species have been deprived of their natural spawning
grounds.
Keywords: Inland Waters, Caspian,
Biodiversity, Invasive Species, Ecology
Introduction
A series of changes in the planet’s characteristics have been identified as a consequence of a
warming climate. Some of these include an increase in global surface temperatures (0.4 to 0.8 °C); an
increase in precipitation; an increase in the intensity and frequency of El-Niño events and a decline in
Arctic sea-ice extent. The impacts of climate change on wetlands will come from alterations in
hydrological regimes, including the frequency and
severity of extreme events; increased temperature
and altered evapotranspiration rates, altered biogeochemistry. Major impacts to inland waters
include warming of rivers. Species in small rivers and lakes are expected to be
more susceptible to
these changes than those in large rivers and lakes. It may also affect the wetland carbon sink. The
combined effect of climate change and human-induced alterations to the aquatic systems has not
been studied in detail. The extent of biodiversity loss or dislocation from inland water habitats will
be difficult to discern from other existing pressures. Large-scale changes to these habitats will result
in changes of species composition. The vegetation zones and species will change in response to
temperature and other impacts, the extent of such change is however unknown. Most apparent
faunal changes will possibly occur with migratory and nomadic bird species that use
a network of
wetland habitats across or within continents. The cross-continental migration of many birds
including the Caspian is at risk of being disrupted by changes in habitats. We will focuss here on the
sea level, biological resources, biodiversity, marine invasive species, ecology and the impact on the
food web in the Caspian Sea under this context.
Study Area
This data published by several researchers listed in the references part was evaluated in this study
in the
light of latest findings, together with other different investigations undertaken on the Caspian.
30