Climate-induced hydrological changes and the ecology of freshwater biota: A review

Abstract

Climate change is believed to pose adverse effects to biodiversity of aquatic systems, both in boreal and tropical areas. …. the tropical freshwater systems are expected to suffer more severe impacts of climate change, from heavy floods or extended drought than do the boreal areas. Unfortunately, next few decades species extinction is suggested as dark future as we lack researches uncovering how climate change threats the aquatic biota. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of biota’ performance in face of climatic pressures, will guide the further necessary researches. This paper presents a review on the available researches addressing ecological effects of the most influential climatic parameters, flood and drought, on freshwater biota.