Which of the following factors is NOT influenced by climate change in freshwater ecosystems?

Climate change significantly impacts various aspects of freshwater ecosystems, leading to changes in water temperature, flow patterns, and habitat availability.

Water temperature can increase due to rising global temperatures, which affects the metabolic rates of aquatic organisms and can shift species distributions. Flow patterns are also influenced by climate change, as altered precipitation and melting snow can lead to changes in river and stream flows, impacting the life cycles of aquatic species and their habitats.

Habitat availability is directly affected as changes in precipitation patterns, increased evaporation, and altered water levels can lead to the flooding or drying of habitats.

In contrast, while climate change can create conditions that may increase the risk of species extinction, the actual rates of extinction are influenced by a multitude of factors, including habitat loss, invasive species, and human activities that are not solely attributable to climate change. Thus, species extinction rates can be seen as a consequence of these broader ecological pressures rather than a direct influence of climate change itself.