Changes to the composition, structure and functioning of natural communities in deserts and dryland ecosystems are key risks resulting from water stress, drought intensity and continued habitat degradation, greater frequency of wildfire, biodiversity loss and the spread of invasive species . Not all these stresses occur at the same time in a particular environment, with some areas more exposed to, for example, wildfire than others, especially in areas with high amounts of dry herbaceous biomass. Grassland composition may shift as C3 plants are replaced by C4 species, which have higher optimal temperatures and higher water use efficiency  . Many desert species have morphological, physiological and/ or behavioural adaptations to cope with climatic extremes, including rapid regeneration following droughts , leaf dropping during the dry season to reduce water loss , alongside long histories of adaptation to climate change , while many animals live near their physiological limits . Substantial ecological effects may occur when extreme events such as heatwaves or droughts are superimposed on the warming trend,
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report