Impacts of climate change on African mammalian biodiversity

This study aim was to investigate the effects of climate change on African mammals’ biodiversity. Using a systematic literature review (SLR), this study synthesized data from peer-reviewed studies, articles, and reports from academic databases, and the results were presented using content analysis.

The findings revealed that temperature rise, change in precipitation, and increase in extreme weather events all play a significant role in African mammal species distribution. Grazers like elephants, wildebeest and zebra are losing their space, food, and water berths, resulting in either forced migration, or a new human- wildlife conflict. The reduced prey availability and change in prey hunting behaviours are additional impacts on predators like lions and cheetahs. Temperature is pushing sensitive species like primates and large herbivores to cooler areas, but they often find themselves in non-viable fragments. Also, diseases such as malaria and ticks-borne diseases are also encouraged by climate change, as they expose African mammals to new health risks. Some conservation efforts, like the creation of protected areas and wildlife corridors, have been implemented, but these are often not large enough in scale to respond to the magnitude of the changes brought about by climate change.

Climate change imperils the biodiversity of African mammals through habitat loss, inability to migrate, and health effects due to the prevalence of extreme weather conditions. All of these impacts that will affect the long- term survival of Africa’s unique wildlife require urgent conservative actions on the ground such as increasing wildlife corridors, policies adaptations and improved research and monitoring.