Joshua F.

Octiza

BSCE III-D

The journal article entitled "The Effects of Global Change on Tropical

Ecosystems" by R.J. Scholes primarily focuses on the study of the effects of Global
changes in relation to other factors to tropical ecosystems. The problem that is
addressed is whether external changes and disparity play a major role to the alteration
of the ecological imbalance in tropical ecosystems. From the onset of global warming,
millions of animals have been significantly affected by the environmental changes of
their natural habitat and the use of land due to increasing demand. The journal holds
great weight to humans in general because of being part of the ecosystem as well and
human activities majorly affects nature.

In the study, it is emphasized that the alteration of land use will continue to be
the driving force of environmental change in the tropics for the next several decades.
This is absolutely true and it should be noted that due to population growth, vast
majority of forests have been shaved off to give way to industry and agriculture.
Different species are generally slow on adopting to unexpected stimuli which means
they cannot easily adopt to changes on their environment. It should be noted that this
problem has been in existence since the emergence of the first civilizations and that
humans are the major driving force of destruction to the environment ever since.

The author also stated that the atmospheric composition changes and resultant
climate changes could become ecologically significant within the next century. This
statement supports the problem and should hold weigh since ecological changes are
now visibly happening. While this is supported by science and evidence, data in
which the statement is based upon should be included on the statement and that
concerns about the study itself should be well represented as well.

Relationship between elevations are also expressed wherein the difference in

the effects and changes of atmospheric composition between the tropics and higher
altitude area are the same. It has been shown that higher elevations have the most
extreme increases in temperature than in surface lands. This is due to the melting of
ice and snow in which are the primary reflectors of heat coming from the sun.
Without reflects heat are stored to the ground surface and would add to the
temperature in the atmosphere. Science papers are presented by contradicting facts
which further explains the point of the author.

Atmospheric composition may also have an indirect effect on tropical

ecosystems via its effects on the climate. Capitalizing on the science based approach
of the journal, the researcher is presenting some statement with some probability
based on the facts gathered. Most researchers predict outcomes based on interviews,
but in this case, the author simply derived a statement based on careful analysis of
facts.

In conclusion, climate change affects tropical ecosystems and the major

driving force of this events occurring are human activities. The journal was well
created with an emphasis to science based approach that should be the most
appropriate when it comes to presenting a research that holds a significant weight to
the environment as a whole. Science papers should be presented by basing off
statements purely from facts and that the amount of scientific inquiries should be
great to arrive at an answer.