Climate change affects ecosystems differently. Some may be more vulnerable due to their geographical location, others due to temperature ranges, rainfall patterns, and so on. Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) have collaborated with a scientific team from Canada and discovered that the aquatic ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada have undergone changes due to global warming over the last 150 years.
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Changes in Sierra Nevada
The changes detected in Sierra Nevada are mainly due to the effects produced by climate change. Among these changes, a reduction in rainfall and an increase in temperatures can be observed, mainly.
In this natural environment, not only are these effects of climate change occurring, but another determining factor in the aforementioned changes has also emerged: an increase in Saharan dust deposition . Some might wonder, what does climate change have to do with the intrusion of Saharan dust into the Sierra Nevada ecosystems?
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts. In areas with less abundant rainfall, soil erosion is more pronounced because the soil particles are no longer anchored by vegetation. As rainfall decreases in the Sahara and Sahel regions, the amount of Saharan dust entering Spain increases, and consequently, so does its deposition in the Sierra Nevada's natural environment. It is also important to observe the impact of Saharan dust on the region and its effects on the environment, as well as on the climate of Sierra Nevada.
What are the effects of Saharan dust?
The research has detailed some of the effects of Saharan dust on this ecosystem. Among them is its fertilizing effect on primary production, since this dust is rich in phosphorus. As it has entered the Sierra Nevada lagoons over the last few decades, it has contributed to the increased development of cladocerans such as Daphnia. These animals have high calcium requirements in their diet, which they also obtain from this Saharan dust.
These lagoons located in the Sierra Nevada mountains, such as Laguna de Aguas Verdes and Laguna de Río Seco, have provided this research group with clear evidence that climate change is affecting ecosystems worldwide. What happens in one country can impact ecosystems in another, as nature knows no political boundaries. Also noteworthy is the phenomenon of mud rain , which is linked to the arrival of Saharan dust and can have a significant impact on environmental health.
“Mainly due to the changes observed in biological communities and primary production that began at the beginning of the 20th century, but intensified in recent decades , and which indicate a regional-scale response to climate and Saharan dust deposition,” says Laura Jiménez, a researcher at the University of Granada, who also adds that “the study confirms that the high mountain lakes of Sierra Nevada are excellent systems for reconstructing the past environmental conditions of these aquatic ecosystems on a scale of centuries.”
Study conclusions
In general, the increase in air temperature and the decrease in precipitation over the last few decades are having an impact on the Sierra Nevada lagoons. This is evident in the fact that snowfall is becoming less frequent each year. One of the most noticeable effects is the earlier retreat of snow and ice, an increase in water temperature, and a longer water residence time. This phenomenon is linked to studies on the effects of climate change in other regions and its impact on aquatic ecosystems.
They also have to take into account that Saharan dust affects cladoceran communities and favors the development of certain species such as Alona quadrangularis, a more generalist species than others better adapted to more extreme conditions or colder environments such as Chydorus sphaericus, which shows a change in the biodiversity of the environment.
In short, this study provides further evidence that climate change is increasing the intrusion of Saharan dust into the Iberian Peninsula , as droughts in the Sahara become more frequent. Consequently, this dust is altering the trophic state of the lagoons and the structure of the biological communities that inhabit them.
