Ecosystem Impacts

“The factors that determine properties of both ecosystems and the climate system have changed more rapidly in the past 50 years than during the previous 10 000 years" (Steffen et al. 2004, Chapin III et al., 2008). “Climate and weather patterns are important physical components of complex ecosystems and any major change in the nonliving component of an ecosystem will affect living components, including microbes, insect vectors, animal reservoirs and susceptible humans, and change the incidence and distribution of infectious diseases" (Greer et al., 2008). “Further ecosystem-level responses to climate change include shifts in the seasonal timing of recurring processes” (Portner and Farrell, 2008). For example, heavy rainfall events lead to changes in the direction of flow of water systems. Heavy rainfall could result in water flowing over areas infected with animal waste and could then travel into human water supplies. Water from a fecal or waste system could contaminate a drinking water source. Another potential result could be the overflow of storm drains coupled with sewage systems. Extreme rainfall and flooding supports the speedy transport of disease-causing pathogens into clean water supplies. In 1989 there was a cryptosoridiosis outbreak in Wisconsin that was linked to a municipal water supply and ended up affecting 400,000 people.  Curriero et al. studied the records of 548 outbreaks in the United States from 1948 to 1994 and found a relationship between heavy rainfall and waterborne disease outbreaks. "Some 51% of all outbreaks were preceded by an extreme rainfall event" (Hunter, 2003).  One of the most severe consequences of extreme flooding in North America was the Walkerton outbreak of E. Coli. "As a result, six people died, sixty-five people were admitted to a hospital, and 1000 people were affected" (Hunter, 2003). Heavy rainfall also leads to a substantial decrease in the quality of surface waters which could be detrimental to those who partake in recreational water sports, such as water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, etc. “Flooding provides breeding habitats for vectors and reservoir hosts, increasing their abundance and geographic range, which may lead to more frequent outbreaks of disease” (Greer et al. 2008) “Increasing temperatures may lengthen the seasonality or alter the geographical distribution of water-borne diseases. In the marine environment, warm temperatures create favorable conditions for red tides (blooms of toxic algae) which can increase the incidence of shell-fish poisoning. Increasing sea surface temperatures can indirectly influence the viability of enteric pathogens such as Vibrio cholerae by increasing their reservoir’s food supply” (Patz, 2008). Heavy rains can contaminate watersheds; human and animal fecal products and other wastes can be transported via flood water. There has been documented scientific evidence of contaminated water immediately after heavy rain fall events for cryptosporidium, giardia, and E.coli. “This type of event may be increased in conditions of high soil saturation due to more efficient microbial transport” (Patz, 2008). Climate indirectly affects waterborne disease through “changes in ocean and coastal ecosystems including changes in pH, nutrient and contaminant runoff, salinity, and water security” (CDC.com). This, in turn, affects water for daily activities.  Since changing climate “effects are most pronounced in cold climates, where warming has been most pronounced and physical and biological processes are particularly sensitive to temperature,” Northern America is in trouble (Chapin III et al., 2008)

Water sports can lead to infection 

Hunter et. al,