Biozone p. 223-244; #1-2: Biodiversity and Global Warming

1(d). Global warming is likely to affect the physical environment as well as both the plants and animals inhabiting it. Describe how increases in global temperatures have affected some migratory birds:

Birds are migrating up to two weeks earlier to summer feeding grounds and are often not migrating as far south in winter

1(c). Global warming is likely to affect the physical environment as well as both the plants and animals inhabiting it. Suggest how farmers might be able to adjust to these changes:

Change crops planted in certain areas at certain times; use crops that are known to be stable in certain conditions currently

1(f). Global warming is likely to affect the physical environment as well as both the plants and animals inhabiting it. Explain how global warming could lead to the local extinction of some alpine species:

Global warming will reduce the amount of areas with cold climate, meaning many of the cold areas in which alpine species reside will not longer be cold areas, causing extinction of many of these species

1(a). Global warming is likely to affect the physical environment as well as both the plants and animals inhabiting it. Describe some likely effects of global warming on physical environmental aspects:

Habitat migration (movement of a habitat form its current region into another), rising oceans, glacial retreat, saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers

1(b). Global warming is likely to affect the physical environment as well as both the plants and animals inhabiting it. Describe the effects that global warming may have on plant crops:

Longer growing seasons in cooler regions; crop yields in temperate regions may improve; range for some crops may increase; more unpredictable farming conditions in tropical areas; loss of fertile coastal lands by rising sea levels

2. Discuss the historical evidence that insect populations are affected by global temperature:

Studies of the distributions of butterfly species in many countries show their populations are shifting. Surveys of Edith's checkerspot butterfly in western North America have shown it to be moving north and to higher altitudes

1(e). Global warming is likely to affect the physical environment as well as both the plants and animals inhabiting it. Explain how these changes in migratory patterns might affect food availability for these populations:

The birds may wind up in an unsuitable place to collect food as a result of their unusual migratory pattern