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Species response to climate change

Wycliffe Tumwesigye*, Violah Kishoin, Wilber Wambi

The study aimed at narrative review of published literature to understand the response of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects and microorganisms to climate change. Response of biodiversity to altitudinal gradient was also reviewed. It results into habitat loss, sea level rise and snow melting influenced species diversity and species extinction climate change affected biodiversity both positively and negatively at all scales and levels. The response of species diversity to climate change is a complex phenomenon. Literature search from 2000-2019 was carried out using key words, nature and climate change journals. More than 120 publications were obtained and key phrases in Google search engine. Elsevier, JSTOR, Googlescholar, Research gate and 69 were used for this publication. The study found that species diversity responds to climate change differently depending of their habitat, feeding habit and physiology. While some organisms are favoured by increased high temperature/rainfall, others are disfavoured by increased temperature/rainfall. The review concluded that the response of species to climate change is complicated since involving both negative and positive scenarios. Further studies were recommended to generate more knowledge and better understand the complex phenomenon for sustainable development and human wellbeing.