Final answer:
Rising global temperatures can negatively impact reproductive biology and distribution of species, leading to potential population declines. Earlier flowering in plants, expanded ranges for disease-carrying insects, and stress on coral reefs are some consequences of climate change. Adaptation to these rapid changes is crucial for the survival of various species.
Step-by-step explanation:
Changes in global temperatures significantly affect the reproductive biology and geographic distribution of various species. Warmer temperatures can lead to earlier seed production in plants and potentially disjointed timing between plant flowering and insect pollinator emergence. For animals like butterflies and amphibians, which use external fertilization and are ectothermic, rising temperatures can cause changes in life cycle events such as maturation and mating, potentially leading to a decline in populations if they can't adapt quickly enough.
The increase in temperature can also expand the range of disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes, allowing diseases like malaria and dengue fever to reach new regions. Furthermore, changes in climate have been linked to earlier emergence in butterflies and earlier mating in amphibians in the UK. However, the misconception that there will be no impact on butterfly and amphibian populations is incorrect; their numbers may very much decline with rising temperatures.
In the case of coral reefs, even a conservative estimate of a 1-2°C rise in ocean temperatures could push these ecosystems beyond recovery, highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing the implications of climate change.