Final answer:
Biodiversity generally increases closer to the equator, but climate change is causing significant changes in the biosphere and threatening many species. Coral reefs, in particular, are at risk due to rising temperatures.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the oldest observed patterns in ecology is that biodiversity increases closer to the equator. As latitude declines, the biodiversity in almost every taxonomic group of organisms tends to increase. This means that there are more species and more diverse ecosystems in tropical regions compared to polar regions.
However, it is important to note that climate change is currently having a significant impact on the biosphere. With the increase in global temperature, the impacts on and response of biological diversity are changing. The landscapes within which species would naturally move to adapt to climate change have been modified by human activities such as deforestation and agriculture, making it challenging for organisms to disperse and find suitable habitats.
Furthermore, the increase in global temperatures due to climate change can lead to rapid changes that threaten the survival of many species. Coral reefs, for example, are highly sensitive to temperature increases, and many scientists believe that global warming is pushing these ecosystems beyond their ability to recover.