Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and its Implications on Biodiversity: A Review

Abstract

Climate change-related impacts on water resources can significantly lead to biodiversity loss. Species with specific water resource adaptations, including threatened and endemic species, are in danger of going extinct. The effect of climate change on biodiversity related to water scarcity or shortages has received less attention despite being acknowledged. This paper provides up-to-date collective information and knowledge gap on the impact of climate change on water and how it impacts biodiversity with a particular focus on the connection between climate change impacts, water resources, and the species biodiversity. Sixty (60) original peer reviewed research or review articles, and reports were reviewed to highpoint the impact of climate change on water resources and its implications on biodiversity including human being. We highlight that the impact of climate change on water resources (e.g., water scarcity and shortages) exerts more pressure on biodiversity conservation as it directly affects the growth and behaviour of species and modifies their habitats, population size, composition, interactions, timing of reproduction, reproductive phenology, and growing season. Furthermore, being the part of earth’s biodiversity, humans are also affected by the climate change water-related problems. This review earmarked that water shortages due to climate change puts the human population at great risk in terms of crop productivity, food security, and a variety of economic activities. Well–designed infrastructure to harvest water, mitigate and adapt to climate change is vital for protecting biodiversity from climate risks i.e., water shortages. This review paper is useful to government agencies charged with climate change and environmental conservation and policymakers mostly in developing nations to widen goals where the impact of climate is more noticeable. In addition, several deaths of animals and human due to water shortages have been reported.