Insects' temperature are such that, that their body temperature reflects approximate that of their environment. This makes them "great little thermometers" according to biologist Jessica Hellman of the University of Notre Dame. It also makes them particularly susceptible to global warming. The question climate change watchers are trying to grapple with is this: Will insects become "trapped" in habitats that can no longer support them as temperatures rise and climate change progresses?

By Deepa Srinivasan & Aparajita Bose

The recent oil spill off the Gulf coast was not a result of global warming, but it did affect the ecosystem in a big way, affecting marine life, birds and a lot of other species in the process. If the spilled oil has a property, it has to be attributed to Midas' touch, turning everything that it touched grey. The April 2010 oil spill is considered the biggest environmental disaster of all times. There are other changes that take place, which, over time, could lead to the disappearance of several species, and we would not realise it until it is too late.

Even a well-planned city like Singapore was severely affected by the flash flood of June 16, 2010. Caused by heavy downpour, several parts of Singapore were flooded, and it caused damage to many. Basement car parks and shops were heavily affected. Unpredictable weather is not always unpredictable. Bees and butterflies seem to disappear from the flower beds they usually visit.

Red and black ants build up their mounds around the holes. Fish jump out of the water and nip at low flying insects. Spiders leave their webs when it rains. We have just forgotten how to watch out for these warning signs.

Have you felt the effect of global warming? Srinivasa Ramanujam, Research Scholar & Project Officer (Heat Transfer & Thermal Power Laboratory) at Indian Institute of Technology, Madras shares his observations on climate change with us.

"Rajasthan has reported flash flood rain in several areas including part of Thar Desert region last month. Much of this rain comes from the cyclone Phet which originated in north Arabian Sea, went on to hit Oman, Pakistan and Gujarat region of India. Chennai has witnessed a cyclone landfall (Laila), and few tropical disturbances in the month of May," he said.

Global warming has changed weather patterns, thus making the animals changing their lifestyle accordingly. But it has not affected their built-in sense of picking up the smallest of changes in the weather. We tend to hide behind the concrete walls, hoping we will be safe from natural disasters, and the concrete jungles we live in, were once lush forests which were cut down to make space for cities and industries, thus making it difficult for us to marvel the calls of the birds, the howling of wolves and the chirping of crickets.

It is hard to believe that when the killer tsunami of 2004 smashed into Southeast Asian coast on 26 December, killing more than 200,000 people, almost no wild animals perished (with the exception of caged or confined animals within the wave's path). The tsunami killed 600 people across 50-55 villages in Cuddalore district and Keezputhupattu, but there was hardly any trace of dead cattle or dogs among the debris at the Devanampattinam fishing village where over 100 deaths were reported.

Animals, birds, insects are all essential in preserving a balance. Human activities have already tipped the balance of food supply, where the agrarian country is struggling hard to provide enough food for its citizens.

That apart, fertile land and patches of trees are being felled to provide more space for more and more industrialisation and for expanding the borders of cities.

This massive deforestation has already led to disappearance of several species of birds. The head of the "Center of Bird Fanciers" Silva Adamyan observed that the reduction in green zones, as well as deforestation have resulted in disappearance of nightingales, long-tailed tits and pale sparrows from Yerevan, Armenia.

According to a new report released by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and BirdLife International, the number of threatened bird species, which was 149 in 2008, has now gone up to 156. At least 26 species from Maharashtra, including the Lesser Flamingo, the Malabar Pied Hornbill, the Great Indian Bustard and the White-Rumped Vulture already feature on the list. The Himalayan Quail and Pink-headed Duck are considered extinct in India since they have not been seen for nearly 100 years

The extinction of a bird species disrupts the ecosystem as much as the extinction of a wild animal at the top of the food chain. Bees and butterflies are important for our ecological balance as well, as they help in pollination. And that brings us to the next B word – Biodiversity, defined as the variation of life formswithin a given ecosystem.

Year 2010 has been declared as the International Year of Biodiversity.

Here is why: Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.

Observations of the IUCN suggest that up to 70% of the world's known species risk extinction if the global temperatures rise by more than 3.5°C.

Climate has always varied in Earth's history, but this time it is different. As illustrated in the graph from NASA, the levels of atmospheric CO2 has never been as high as it is today, and human industrialisation processes are responsible for the state of things today.

Earlier this year, a combination of dry weather and an army worm outbreak in Malawi destroyed about 35,000 hectares of crops. Army worms, which can grow to around 5 centimeters (two inches) in length, are moth caterpillars and when present in large numbers can destroy acres and acres of vegetation and crops.

At the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, scientists Dr PK Sharma and Dr S Chandrashekar have introduced several insect-resistant crops such as insect-resistant cotton and tomato. When we asked them if it was possible to remove pests from the face of the earth, a vehement nod came from Dr Chandrashekar as he said, "That is next to impossible. We can manage insect populations, but we can never control or kill. It is the way of nature."

Dr PK Singh added, "If you had to count the total number of animals, you will see that insects make up over 75% of total animal population. You can always see a dip or rise in insect population, but they will never disappear. Larger animals, predators such as dinosaurs are more susceptible. That is why the dinosaurs are extinct and now tigers are threatened.You will never see hyenas or jackals disappearing. Their existence is not threatened.

The Monarch butterfly makes the longest annual migration of all insects and one of the longest regularly repeated migrations of any animal, and in spectacularly large numbers. These beautiful winged insects are indigenous to Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. They live in the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Southern Europe, and Northwest Africa, although they are not native to these places.

Though Monarch butterflies are not an endangered species, they face threats such as habitat loss, loss of food supply. In many places, people use chemicals to kill milkweed and other plants that grow wild.

Added to this, undeveloped land where milkweed grows is being cleared for houses and shopping centers. So there are fewer milkweed plants for adult Monarchs to lay eggs on, and for caterpillars to eat. Some scientists also believe that chemicals used to kill pests such as mosquitoes and gypsy moths are harming and killing Monarch caterpillars and adults.

In the Indian context, Dr George Mathew of KFRI (Kerala Forest Research Institute) tells us that butterflies are poached by traders. The Protection of Indian Wildlife Act (1972) prohibits collection of several species of insects including butterflies for trade. In many countries butterfly trade is a booming industry.

Species loss has tremendous implications on biodiversity. It has been stated that 449 species of butterflies are threatened species in India under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. Thus he set up the KFRI Butterfly Park was set over 0.5 hectare of degraded forest land within the KFRI campus in Peechi three years ago. Landscaped set atmospherically for different butterfly habitats such as openings with bright sunshine, shades, lianas, damp areas, bushes, and over 100 species of host plants were introduced.

During the first year of the project, 4509 sightings of 43 butterfly species were recorded. During the second year 5993 sightings of 50 species was recorded and at the end of the three year study period, 10502 sightings of 56 species was recorded. This included 8 species endemic to the Western Ghats and 10 species having protected status under the Indian Wildlife Act.

Another observation is that the Birdwing butterflies remain in the vicinity of Aristolochia plants for egg laying. Observations also revealed that the Aristolochia plant supported not just one species of butterfly, but three more species- the Common rose, the Crimson Rose and Malabar Rose which is an endemic species resembling the common rose. "As a result of the butterfly park the diversity of other groups of organisms like predatory insects which include the Preying Mantis, wasps, spiders, birds (such as barbets, small green barbet, Fly catchers, warblers), garden lizards, skinks and snakes like the vine snake have been recorded from the garden. Thus, Dr George Mathew concludes by saying that, "By conserving butterflies, we are conserving several other organisms as well."

In the very end, what most of us will not be worried about is how many bird species are alive or how many new animal species were found in the ocean. A man who cannot understand the delicate balance of nature will only worry about the roof on top of his head. Man will build skyscrapers and travel to the moon, but maybe he has forgotten what Australian Professor Frank Fenner has to say, that humans will probably live to see the next 100 years or so.