Climate Change Impact on Biological Systems
Climate change is the long-term shift of weather and temperature pattern. These shifts have a diverse effect on the biological system. Notably, in the event of continued climate change, many species will fail to adapt, thus making them die or migrate to a suitable environment (Baker et al., 2021). In some severe cases, climate change can lead to species extinction. Therefore, climate change disrupts the biological system.
Climate Change Impact on Microbes
Climate change has a diverse effect on microbes. Microbes are organisms that are tinny, thus making them invisible when viewed without using a microscope. Generally, climate change, which majorly results from greenhouse emissions, has increased the number of microbes (Microbiology Society, 2014). Notably, microbes consume three main greenhouse gases nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2). Due to human activities which lead to pollution, the microbes have high access to these greenhouse gases, thus leading to their population increase.
Climate Change and Infectious Diseases: Zika
Zika is an infectious disease whose symptoms resemble dengue fever. The symptoms of the infection include headache, joint pain, red eyes, and fever. Most of these symptoms last for less than seven days, and in most cases, they are mild. During pregnancy, mother-to-child transmission can cause microcephaly and brain malformation for some victim babies, while the adult infection is linked to Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). Zika virus is responsible for the cause of the infection. Zika virus is a family member of Flaviviridae, and its spread by daytime Aedes mosquitoes like A. albopictus and A. aegypti (Baker et al., 2021). The virus is an example of microbes responsible for causing disease infections.
Climate change is likely to spur Zika infection. For instance, climate change especially warming temperatures, increases thermal suitability for Zika transmission. Climate change will likely increase the region suitable for vector inhabitation (Microbiology Society, 2014). A warmer temperature is suitable for more vectors like a mosquito, which is responsible for spreading the disease. High rainfall can also increase the standing water, creating breeding areas for vectors. On the same note, warmer temperature extends the disease transmission session. In many cases, climate change improves the environmental condition that enables the transmission of many diseases. Climate change affects the behaviours of the vectors (Baker et al., 2021). For instance, increased temperature affects the biting behaviours of the mosquito, which thus leads to high spread rates. Therefore, climate change will increase the transmission rate.
Climate change also affects the rate of propagation of the viruses since they are microbes. Notably, climate change on pathogens can be direct through influencing survival, life cycle, and reproduction or indirect through the influence of habitat environment. Therefore, climate change will affect the seasonal and geographic distribution of the Zika virus. The extended period of high temperature raises the average temperature of water bodies, thus providing an agreeable environment for microorganism algal blooms and reproduction cycle (Microbiology Society, 2014). Similarly, unusual precipitation which follows long-term drought can also lead to an increase in the Zika virus, thus risking the outbreak. Therefore, climate change successfully influences the outbreak risk of Zika disease. Hence, there is a need for the world to focus on environmental conservation plans as a way of reducing the vulnerability of Zika virus and other microbes-caused diseases.
References
Baker, R. E., Mahmud, A. S., Miller, I. F., Rajeev, M., Rasambainarivo, F., Rice, B. L., Takahashi, S., Tatem, A. J., Wagner, C. E., Wang, L.-F., Wesolowski, A., & Metcalf, C. J. E. (2021). Infectious disease in an era of global change. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 20(20). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-021-00639-z
Microbiology Society. (2014). Dr Rita Colwell: “Climate change, oceans and infectious disease: Cholera pandemics as a model.” Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfVqc6zQAdM
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