Everyone talks about the term biodiversity but they don’t really know what it means. Its first definition only talks about the species and their variations that exist, but that is biodiversity is more complex than that because it also explains the delicate balancing act between all of those species. Would you consider this wetland to have a low biodiversity?
Can you think of a reason why in a dry season, there are not many animals, birds, flowers as compared to the wet season? You surely saw a different number of animals in the same area during the two seasons, but was its biodiversity really different?
Researchers have to keep these things in mind and also keep them in their mind when explaining and comparing the biodiversity of a field. Biodiversity has an impact on which species occur in an ecosystem, what kind of conditions these species need to survive and flourish and how these species interact with each other. In the following article you find an explanation of the seasons –dependent biodiversity and the reasons why researchers should consider these species.
Nature’s Timing: The Science of Seasonal Biodiversity
The study of seasonal patterns is called phenology, and it refers to the study of climate effects on plants, animals, and their behaviors such as flowering, migration, and breeding. For example, a plant can blossom depending on the accumulated heat, while another plant would blossom based on the change in day length. Amphibians’ breeding grounds depend on water; hence, the change in water amount and quality can affect seed germination or egg incubation.
The change in seasons can also play a trick on ecologists. Some species can be easily identified during the blossom period while others remain dormant or inactive most of the year. Another aspect is the presence of migrants: some species arrive at a place during a specific period of the year while some depart. These are the detectability and presence-absence of species that are frequently mistaken by ecologists.
That is why it is vital to study detectability and not mistake it with biodiversity. A seasonal absence of a species does not mean that it is extinct; an increase in the number of species sighted during one season does not mean that the biodiversity has increased.
Biodiversity assessments can be misleading and biased during the seasons because ecologists fail to recognize the importance of time. An ecosystem can host and maintain high biodiversity regardless of its appearance at one point in time: a wetland can appear empty during the dry season while filling with life during flood season.
Why Wetlands Can Be Empty: A Case Study of an Ecological Survey
There are two types of wetlands: those that are permanent and those that are seasonal. The last ones appear only during the wet season and soon disappear when the water recedes. The seasonal wetlands can look quite bare for most of the year. For example, Keoladeo National Park located in Rajasthan was surveyed by Arnold G. van der Valk and Beth A. Middleton in 2005. The authors studied the change in wetland vegetation from one season to another. They described a monsoonal wetland as a part of a wetland complex that appeared seasonally. They mentioned a seed bank that can ensure the emergence of new seedlings and plants, when conditions are right.
Van der Valk and Middleton proved that the absence of a body of water does not mean the absence of a wetland. The wetland appeared in a seasonally flooded or unflooded state; hence, it could not be described as a wasteland during the dry season. The main characteristic of this wetland was the seed bank. It stored plenty of viable seeds which could germinate and grow when specific conditions were met.
This example shows that scientists should be aware that species richness can change due to seasonal shifts, and time should be considered when comparing the biodiversity of different ecosystems.
Moreover, a temporary wetland (especially the ones with seasonal flooding) can provide ecological importance for breeding and feeding. In some cases, the dry season is crucial for organisms; for example, one species of plants needs flooding to grow. The timing of seasonal wetlands can be vital for other species during specific periods of their life. The survival and breeding of animals can depend on breeding grounds, nest-site availability, and predation risk. This is why the change in seasons can determine the presence-absence of species and the overall biodiversity.
Delhi’s Small Ponds: An Unexpected Example of Seasonal Biodiversity
As you can see, seasonal biodiversity can be detected both in the wilderness and in the city. The researchers have discovered that small water bodies in urban landscapes can play an essential role in biodiversity conservation in a particular area. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Urban Ecology explored the diversity of birds that can be found around the small ponds in Delhi.
The researchers noticed that 39 natural and semi-natural small ponds (< 1 ha) host 127 bird species during 2020’s January-March with a standard error ± 22 species. The number accounted for approximately 37 percent of the bird species of Delhi (a figure reported by an ecological study published in the Journal of Ornithology). Surprisingly, the authors found out that the number of species detected varied between the mornings and the evenings. This finding implies that the season affects the rate of biodiversity: it is not constant, but only changes in time.
When the Timing Is Off- Climate Fluctuation and Biodiversity
The scientists are not done studying the patterns of species occurrence and the effects of time on the ecological importance of species richness and abundance. For example, some plants need insects for pollination; those insects can only appear in a specific season. Another example is a bird that can only breed during a particular period of the year because their food is available then. These are just two examples of many that show the interdependence of living creatures.
When climate change causes a shift in species’ life cycles, the animals that used to be in an ecosystem may struggle to find food or shelter. A change in the timing of biological events is called a phenological shift, and it describes the relationships between animals, plants, and their environment. A review paper by Marcel E. Visser and Peter Gienapp published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution in 2019 discussed the concepts of evolutionary and demographic consequences of a phenological mismatch. It states that both the reproductive success and the dynamics within the species’ populations can be affected, depending on the ecosystem.
Another report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change mentioned the change in the timing and distribution of a number of terrestrial and freshwater species.
Let’s suppose that a shift in seasonal patterns has occurred. One bird species has changed its breeding season; the plant that it feeds on has not. This example demonstrates how climate change can disrupt the balance in an ecosystem: a decrease in the reproductive success of one species will have a ripple effect on the rest of the community.
It should also be noted that the adaptation of individual species to climate change is not a guaranteed solution to the problem. Viable pollinators and food sources for native plants and animals might become unavailable at critical times. Ecological consequences vary in different species and ecosystems, but the fact that climate change can potentially affect biodiversity is undeniable: one species might lose the source of food or reproduce at the wrong time, decreasing the number of offspring, which is detrimental for the population.
When Nature Rests: The Cases of Dormancy
There are several examples of nature’s adaptations to seasonal changes that show how important it is to study time when assessing biodiversity. Dormancy is a process when an organism can decrease its metabolism to survive winter or another harsh season. Seeding plants survive the dry season through various mechanisms, and some insects use a type of dormancy called diapause to keep themselves alive. During this period, their bodies are suspended in development to keep them from extreme conditions. These are two examples of many that demonstrate adaptation to seasonal changes; scientists should consider them when evaluating biodiversity.
India’s Monsoon and the Wetlands Ecosystems
The wettest period in India is called monsoon, and it plays the key role in the distribution of the country’s biodiversity. Water is essential for most species; during monsoon, wetlands fill with rainwater and provide a suitable breeding ground for many animals and plants. The monsoon’s timing, distribution, and intensity affect the survival and abundance of different organisms. Hence, the change in the seasonal patterns that shape the extent and intensity of wetlands and the life of these habitats can be a serious threat to the country’s biodiversity.
One of the recent scientific studies devoted to the seasonal wetlands’ biodiversity change is the research of Madayippara’s wetlands in Kerala. This place is a lateritic plateau with seasonal wetlands that appeared due to seasonal pools of water. Dr. Nilotpala Saha published the results of his research that describes this area’s characteristic types of flora, which include some of the endemic plant species. Such plants are able to live only in their habitat, which makes the biodiversity unique to the site. The researcher stated that despite the small surface of the wetland, the pool hosts a high amount of vascular plants and flowering plants, specifically.
Scientists should keep in mind that these unique plants can only flower during a particular season. This means that the value of a wetland or another water body can become evident as the seasons change. The destruction of such a wetland might lead to the loss of this aquatic ecosystem’s plants and animals, disrupting the local balance.
How to Measure What You Don’t See: A Few Suggestions
The changes in seasonal patterns can be tricky to identify. Scientists might get confused while assessing the richness and abundance of species and make the wrong conclusions about the biodiversity within a particular area. The key to conducting the research properly is to consider the changes within one ecosystem, and compare these changes from one area to another.
There are at least three ways that researchers can take into account when conducting biodiversity assessments with regard to seasonal changes.
- One method is to conduct a research survey in the same area several times a year and observe the biodiversity at different times of the season. Researchers should also keep records about the dates, flowering, migration, nesting, rainfall, water level, and other data they can correlate with the changes they see.
- The second method is to use technology. The cameras can record the activity of local animals; acoustic sensors can pick up different sounds in an area that can assist in identifying the local animals by their calls. The satellite images can show the changes in the surface of a wetland, the amount of food, and the area occupied by plants. DNA sequencing is another method that can help scientists determine which species have been in the area.
- The third method is citizen science. Many people are interested in ecology, plants, and animals. Bird-watchers, for instance, might be able to provide information about any changes they notice.
All of these methods are effective and can be combined. The data collected from different researches can be brought together to create a bigger picture of the local area’s biodiversity. It is important to keep careful records and analyze them carefully. There is no doubt that a better understanding of the seasonal pattern changes will allow scientists to keep a better control over the state and the health of biodiversity.
From Information to Action: Conserving Biodiversity Year-Round
As you have seen, biodiversity can fluctuate greatly from one season to another. Now, scientists must act upon this knowledge. Ecologists should take into account seasonal patterns when comparing biodiversity across similar areas. They should also ensure there is enough data to analyze the change for years before attempting to draw final conclusions about a biodiversity rate. The following are five recommendations to help scientists conserve seasonal ecosystems.
- First, scientists should ensure that biodiversity assessments take into account seasonal fluctuations within an ecosystem. Such environments as wetlands and many others undergo drastic changes as the seasons change; if a researcher only visits the area once and assesses its biodiversity, the results might turn out to be misleading.
- Second, scientists should keep the seasonal dynamics of wetlands in mind when determining their ecological significance. The temporary wetlands can host unique flora and fauna. The researchers should protect the water bodies, providing they are essential for breeding and life.
- Third, conservation programs should include monitoring the seasonal change. The shift in phenology can indicate some problems within the ecosystem. The researchers should keep these long-term shifts in records and analyze them carefully.
- Fourth, conservation plans should consider the seasonal connection between species. Animals that migrate from one habitat to another can be affected greatly by the change in seasons. There is no doubt that conservationists should maintain the connectivity within habitats, and not the isolated parts.
- Lastly, conservationists should address climate change, along with the other threatening factors to biodiversity. Such programs as biodiversity conservation can ensure the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that affect global warming and the overall health of the ecosystems.
These are only a few recommendations, and there are many more ways to conserve and maintain biodiversity that conservationists can apply. The awareness of seasonal change is an important step to ensuring that scientists can conduct the research properly and make accurate conclusions.
By: Sonu Gupta
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