Researchers from University of Pannonia and the HUN-REN Balaton Limnological Research Institute (HUN-REN BLRI) conducted experiments under various climate change scenarios to examine the structure and function of the phytoplankton system in the institute's outdoor mesocosm system in Tihany. They studied the impact of climate change on the living communities applying a species- and trait-based approach. The paper published in the prestigious Environmental Research journal underscores that even moderate temperature increases pose a significant risk to biodiversity.
Climate change endangers surface waters worldwide. It can have a particularly significant impact on shallow lakes, where water temperatures may rise significantly as an expected consequence of climate change. A crucial yet understudied component of aquatic ecosystems is benthic algae, making it important to learn more about how global warming affects this bottom-dwelling algal community in shallow lakes.
The results of the experiments conducted by scientists indicate that even the projected three-degree temperature increase in the future has a significant impact on benthic algae communities by altering their species and trait composition. A more substantial temperature increase of 5°C, on the other hand, will lead to even more drastic changes in freshwater benthic ecosystems by inducing a high degree of variation in species composition.
The paper highlights that even moderate temperature increases pose a significant risk to biodiversity. Temperature increases exceeding five degrees could have drastic effects on benthic algae populations, potentially endangering the entire ecosystem's functioning.
