The impact of climate change on the biodiversity and ecosystem functions of the wet tropics

Abstract

There is no doubt that the climate is changing across the globe, primarily due to increases in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions of carbon dioxide are 12 times greater today than 100 years ago and average temperatures have already risen approximately 0.6 °C and are continuing to increase (Houghton 2001). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts further increases of between 1.4 and 5.8 °C by the end of the century, and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology has announced that 2005 was the hottest year on record. As well as increasing temperatures, rainfall patterns are changing, sea levels are rising and severe weather events, such as El Nino, drought and floods, are becoming more common (Easterling et a1. 2000; Walsh & Ryan 2000; Milly et al. 2002; Palmer & Raianen 2002).