Drought causes lack of biodiversity

Drought is a significant cause of reduced biodiversity because it disrupts water availability, leading to habitat degradation, increased species mortality, and changes in the composition of biological communities^[1][2][3].

• Habitat degradation: Drought lowers water levels in lakes, ponds, and rivers, shrinks wetlands, and depletes groundwater, making habitats less suitable for many plants and animals^[1].
• Reduced water for wildlife and plants: The lack of water stresses plant communities, reduces soil fertility, and limits drinking water for wildlife, sometimes placing endangered species at further risk^[1][4][5].
• Decline in species richness and abundance: Drought often leads to a decline in the number and diversity of species present (taxonomic and functional biodiversity), affecting microorganisms, algae, plants, invertebrates, and fish^[3][6].
• Altered community structure: There can be shifts towards more drought-tolerant species, causing changes in the dominant vegetation or fauna and reducing overall ecological complexity^[2].
• Disrupted ecological processes: Drought can impact soil communities, reduce microbial and faunal abundance, and slow down nutrient cycling due to changes in litter quality and soil moisture^[2][7].

While some species (particularly in seasonal or naturally variable environments) have adaptations to withstand occasional periods of drought, increasingly frequent or prolonged drought can surpass the resilience of many communities, making recovery less likely and lasting loss of biodiversity more common^[4][8].

In summary, drought can cause a lack of biodiversity by directly affecting species survival and reproduction, diminishing habitats, and favoring drought-resistant species at the expense of overall variety^[1][2][3].

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• https://waterportal.ca/environmental-impacts-of-drought/    
• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9542112/    
• https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wat2.1745   
• https://freshwaterhabitats.org.uk/news/how-does-drought-impact-freshwater-biodiversity/  
• https://www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/blogs/impacts-drought-water-quality-and-wildlife 
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000632071400189X 
• https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2313334121 
• https://www.unep-wcmc.org/news/drought--desertification-and-drylands-biodiversity