Ecological Impacts of Climate Change

Objectives

Explore the ecological Impacts of climate change.

Open Ended

Why is it important to understand the ecological impacts of climate change?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a consequence of climate change in the presentation?

• Temperatures are rising

• Sea levels are rising

• The ocean is acidifying

• Forest fires are decreasing

Multiple Choice

Which of the following factors can affect ecosystems?

• Temperature

• Migration patterns

• Genetic mutations

• Human population growth

Multiple Select

Which of the following are changes experienced by species and ecosystems as a result of climate change?

• Growth rates

• Cycling of water and nutrients

• Timing of biological activity

• Soil erosion

Multiple Choice

Which species are most threatened by range shifts due to climate change?

• Species that cannot move fast enough

• Species with large populations

• Species that thrive in urban areas

• Species that eat a wide variety of food

Multiple Select

Which seasonal biological activities are happening earlier than several decades ago due to climate change?

• Trees blooming

• Migrating birds arriving

• Butterflies emerging

• Fish spawning

Open Ended

Explain how climate change can impact the timing of biological activity in different species. Provide examples from the images.

Multiple Choice

What is an example of a local ecological impact caused by global climate change?

• Changes in backyard plant growth

• Increase in global temperature

• Melting of polar ice caps

• Rising sea levels

Open Ended

How has the range of Edith’s checkerspot butterfly changed over the past 40+ years, and what does this indicate about the effects of climate change on species?

Multiple Select

Which of the following are potential impacts of climate change on the Pacific Coastline’s water ecosystems?

• Shift in species ranges

• Creation of new coral reefs

• Mysterious dead zones

• Increase in freshwater fish population

Open Ended

What challenges do ice-dependent animals such as walruses and polar bears face due to shrinking sea ice in the Arctic?

Multiple Select

Which of the following are threats to caribou (wild reindeer) in Alaska and the Arctic due to increased shrub growth?

• Shrubs crowding out lichens

• Shrubs collecting snow and causing deep snowdrifts

• Increased predation by wolves

• Decreased rainfall

Multiple Choice

Which feedback mechanisms contribute to the Arctic warming faster than the rest of the planet?

• Melting sea ice and snow cover, and thawing permafrost

• Increased rainfall and cloud cover

• Expansion of forests and vegetation

• Decreased solar radiation

Open Ended

Explain how climate change has affected wildfire frequency and tree health in Western Mountains.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are effects of warming on the American pika populations?

• Climbing to higher elevations

• Populations isolated on mountaintop islands

• Increased population in lowland areas

• Adaptation to desert environments

Open Ended

How do invasive grasses and wildfire interact to affect desert ecosystems in the Southwestern United States?

Multiple Choice

What ecological changes occurred in piñon pine forests between 2002 and 2004 as a result of drought and beetle infestation?

• Large areas of piñon pines died off

• Piñon pines became more resilient

• No significant change occurred

• Piñon pines migrated to wetter areas

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a challenge in determining the impacts of climate change on agriculture in the Central U.S.?

• Climate change occurs alongside improvements in farming techniques

• There is no change in crop yields

• Farmers do not need information about adaptive practices

• Carbon dioxide levels have no effect on plants

Multiple Choice

How might climate change and other pressures affect migratory waterways in the Central U.S.?

• They may dry up important waterways used by migrating birds

• They will increase the number of playa lakes

• They will reduce pollution in the waterways

• They will make waterways deeper

Open Ended

Explain how climate change could make restoration of the Everglades more difficult.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are effects of climate change on coral reefs?

• Coral bleaching due to heat stress

• Ocean acidification slowing coral growth

• Increased pollution from coastal development

• All of the above

Open Ended

Describe how the northward movement of tropical species is being observed in the Southeast and provide an example.

Open Ended

Reflecting on today's lesson, what do you think is the most significant ecological impact of climate change?