ENVS 260 Biodiv and Climate Change

Global Connection: Biodiversity and Conservation Part A: There is more than one way to measure biodiversity, and one of the most common ways is with species richness--the number of species in a given region. When species go extinct, species richness and thus biodiversity declines. The scatter plots below show possible trends in extinction rates of birds and mammals over the past 180 years. (Only one graph shows the actual global trend.) The x axis represents time. The y axis represents the number of extinctions that occurred in the previous 25 years.Match each description to its corresponding graph.

1. the rate of extinction has dramatically decreased over the past 180 years 2. the rate of extinction has dramatically fluctuated over the past 180 years 3. the rate of extinction has decreased slightly over the past 180 years 4. the rate of extinction has been relatively consistent over the past 180 years 5. the rate of extinction has increased over the past 180 years 6. the rate of extinction increased and then decreased over the past 180 years

Global Connection: Biodiversity and Conservation Part C:

1.Jack pine forests no longer have frequent fires; altered patterns of disturbance 2.Bird eggs are being eaten by an introduced snake; non-native invasive species 3.Tropical rainforest are being cut down; habitat loss and degradation 4.Black rhinos are being poached; overharvesting 5.Warmer oceans result in coral bleaching; climate change 6.Dams inhibit the movement of river dolphins; habitat fragmentation 7.Freshwater mussels are being poisoned by chemical runoff; pollution -As you can see, there are threats to biodiversity around the globe. In fact, there is often more than one threat in a single region at the same time.

Focus on Figures: The Keeling Curve Part C: The Keeling Curve represents CO2 concentrations up to the present, but what will the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere be in the future? Match each of the scenarios with the graph that best represents how that scenario would influence CO2 in the atmosphere over the next 100 years. The scenarios assume the change started in 2018.

1.business as usual: straight line curving up increased emissions: 2.low from 1958-2018, then sharp increase 3.reduced emissions: S curve 4.global extinction: curved line up, then slight decrease -It is important to note that even if all emissions stopped today, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would remain relatively constant for thousands of years. Plants absorb some CO2, but to remove the amount humans have added to the atmosphere would require undoing our fossil fuel emissions. Absorbing and storing all that CO2 in the oceans or in the ground would take thousands of years. Climate scientists create forecasts for possible scenarios regarding the amount of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere. Often scientists will display their results as the impact on global surface warming, as shown in the following graph.

Activity: Introduced Species: Fire Ants Part A: From 1930 to 1939 fire ants spread inland about 60 miles from their point of introduction in Mobile, Alabama. What was the cause of their spread over this distance?

A natural spread -This rate of spread corresponds to a natural spread.

Interpreting Graphs and Data: Projections of Global Warming Part G: Which of the following statements is supported by the graph?

All of the computer-generated forecasts predict some global warming, but reducing the level of CO2 emissions will significantly slow the rate of increase.

Everyday Environmental Science: Wilderness Providing for Humanity Which of the following is a type of ecosystem service in the United States? 1.Production of clean water for human consumption 2.Pollination of apple, orange, and peach trees 3.Production of oxygen by trees 4.All of the listed choices are examples of ecosystem services in the United States.

All of the listed choices are examples of ecosystem services in the United States. -Human populations depend upon many types of goods and services provided by natural ecosystems.

Everyday Environmental Science: Climate Sulfur Part C: What are some of the risks involved in adding one million tons of sulfur 25 kilometers up into the atmosphere? 1.Damage to forests and other vegetation 2.Acid pollution of freshwater ecosystems 3.More human deaths from respiratory disease

All of the listed choices describe the risks involved in adding sulfur to the atmosphere. -After more than 200 years of burning fossil fuels, there are many known effects of sulfur pollution.

Everyday Environmental Science: Climate Sulfur Part B: When we compare the catastrophic eruption in Sumatra 71,000 years ago and the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, we find that __________.

Both eruptions caused a drop in the average temperatures across the Earth -This is why Dr. Crutzen is suggesting that we consider launching rockets to disperse sulfur into the atmosphere to address global warming.

Current Events: Chocolate Production Linked to Increased Deforestation in Poor Nations (ScienceDaily, 10/17/2017) Part B: If trends continue, which of the following is most likely?

Cocoa prices will decrease while the amount of monocropping increases.

Current Events: Chocolate Production Linked to Increased Deforestation in Poor Nations (ScienceDaily, 10/17/2017) Part C: If the Cocoa and Forests Initiative is successful, which of the following industries could follow its practices, as its production is very similar to chocolate?

Coffee

Focus on Figures: The Keeling Curve Part D: Now that you know about past and possible future trends of CO2 in the atmosphere, identify if each of the following actions would increase, decrease, or not influence the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.Drag each action to the appropriate bin.

Could decrease CO2: - planting a tree - becoming a vegetarian - recycling more - powering your home with solar panels Could increase CO2: - driving a fuel-efficient car instead of taking the bus - buying more electronic devices - having a baby - using electricity from your local coal-burning power plant to keep your room 1 degree Celsius cooler in the summer -All of these factors would influence the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Some factors could increase the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, and other factors could decrease it. While the Keeling Curve shows CO2 levels are on the rise, scientists are hopeful that humans will make choices that will reduce CO2 emissions such that global warming can be somewhat mitigated. Data are still being collected and added to the Keeling Curve every day. You can explore the most recent data by searching for Keeling Curve and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Everyday Environmental Science: Climate Sulfur Part D: Increasing sulfur levels in the upper atmosphere would have the same effect as __________.

Decreasing the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere -Both would tend to decrease average temperatures on Earth.

Everyday Environmental Science: Climate Sulfur Part A: In 1991, the massive eruption of Mt. Pinatubo caused global temperatures to __________.

Drop, because sulfur in the stratosphere reflects solar radiation -This is why Dr. Crutzen is suggesting that we consider launching rockets to disperse sulfur into the atmosphere to address global warming.

Everyday Environmental Science: Wilderness Providing for Humanity In Costa Rica, cutting down forests will almost immediately increase the cost of producing __________.

Fresh water -The forests of Costa Rica reduce erosion and help keep rainwater suitable for human consumption

Current Events: Chocolate Production Linked to Increased Deforestation in Poor Nations (ScienceDaily, 10/17/2017) Part E: The World Cocoa Foundation decides to focus on sustainable practices in the two largest cocoa producing countries. Where is their focus?

Ghana and Ivory Coast

Everyday Environmental Science: China's Green Initiatives Part C: What have Chinese companies started producing to reduce the use of gasoline (petrol)?

Hybrid -Hybrid cars are powered by batteries and gasoline.

Interpreting Graphs and Data: Projections of Global Warming Part D: How did the global surface temperature change between 1900 and 2000?

It increased by about 0.7 °C.

Interpreting Graphs and Data: Projections of Global Warming Part E: According to the Business as Usual scenario, how will the global surface temperature change in the century between 2000 and 2100?

It will increase by about 3.5 °C

Focus on Figures: The Keeling Curve Part A: Which of the following graphs best represents the concentration of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere from 1958 to 2018?

Jagged line curved upward There are two graphs -Your answer may or may not be correct. Did you struggle to determine the shape of the curve or how jagged it should be? If you did, you probably recognize there are some nuances to changing CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

Activity: Introduced Species: Fire Ants Part C: In 1958 federal law restricted the movement of soil and plants from areas where fire ants were established. Why was this law unsuccessful in stopping the spread of fire ant colonies?

People were unaware of the federal law and, when they moved, transported plants bearing fire ant colonies; a single mated queen can be transported without being noticed; and many states thought to be free of fire ant colonies already had them. -All of these are reasons that the federal law may have been unsuccessful at stopping the spread of fire ant colonies.

Activity: The Greenhouse Effect Part A: Which of these would NOT contribute to a global increase in temperature? 1.Deforestation 2.Increasing the use of gasoline-burning vehicles 3.Increasing the industrial release of carbon dioxide 4.Planting trees 5.Increasing the amount of animal life on Earth

Planting trees -Trees remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they release into the atmosphere. By removing carbon dioxide, they reduce the greenhouse effect and this would contribute to a reduction in global temperature.

Current Events: Chocolate Production Linked to Increased Deforestation in Poor Nations (ScienceDaily, 10/17/2017) Part A: You are the CEO of Nestle. Which of the following would be best for your company to do to help slow deforestation in developing nations?

Produce your products with shade grown chocolate.

Activity: Introduced Species: Fire Ants Part D: Techniques used in controlling the spread of fire ants include _____.

Setting baits that kill the queen when they are carried back to the nest, applying chemical powders that kill the colony, introducing a protist to infect the fire ant queen and her eggs, and introducing a fly that lays eggs in fire ants so that the eggs will hatch into larvae that eat their way into the ants' heads, which will then fall off -All four of these techniques are being used to battle the fire ants.

Everyday Environmental Science: Wilderness Providing for Humanity In Central and South America, people are more likely to protect the natural environment because they are learning that __________.

The natural environment provides most of their basic needs -The many goods and services provided by natural systems meet most of our human needs.

Interpreting Graphs and Data: Projections of Global Warming Part F: Which prediction has the greatest degree of certainty?

Today's World

Interpreting Graphs and Data: Projections of Global Warming Part B: What does the yellow line represent?

Today's World: The amount of global warming that is likely to occur if CO2 emissions cease immediately and CO2 concentrations continue at their current level.

Current Events: Chocolate Production Linked to Increased Deforestation in Poor Nations (ScienceDaily, 10/17/2017) Part D: Which of the following is true? 1.Cocoa production is the only cause of deforestation. 2.Within the past 20 years, cocoa production has been linked to deforestation. 3.Cocoa production has not been linked to deforestation. 4.Cocoa production has long been linked to deforestation.

Within the past 20 years, cocoa production has been linked to deforestation.

Global Connection: Biodiversity and Conservation Part D: While there are many threats to biodiversity, habitat loss and degradation is the biggest threat. Suppose you are working for an organization whose goal is preserving as much biodiversity as possible by establishing nature preserves to protect certain areas from habitat loss and degradation. You have limited resources, and you can't protect every location on Earth. You have to prioritize. Your organization has asked you to choose two regions to protect based on species richness and the threat to those species' habitat. Below is a map showing species richness around the globe. The habitat loss in six areas is indicated. Of the six areas, drag a check mark to the two you would choose to protect. Drag Xs to the other four areas.

X: - 10% habitat loss in Canada - 1% habitat loss in North Africa - 10% habitat loss in South Asia - 60% habitat loss in Australia ✓: - 60% habitat loss in Mexico - 90% habitat loss in South Asia islands Conservation International has used a similar analysis to the one you just conducted (also considering number of endemic species) to prioritize regions to protect around the globe. They have identified regions known as biodiversity hotspots. These 35+ hotspots represent less than 12% of the earth's total area, but they contain 44% of all plant species and 35% of vertebrate animal species. Over 90% of the habitat in these regions has been destroyed or severely altered. The areas labeled in the map below are designated as hotspots because of the high number of endemic species they contain and the large amount of habitat that has been lost from them.

Everyday Environmental Science: Orca Population Declining The problems with the Puget Sound killer whale population have taught us to __________.

be very careful when adding new chemical compounds to natural environments -The accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in food chains has led to health problems in killer whales.

Activity: Introduced Species: Fire Ants Part B: From 1940 to 1970 fire ants spread through many southern states, sometimes at a rate of 100 miles in a year. What was the cause of their spread over this distance?

being transported along with plants and soil -This is the most likely explanation of the 1940-1970 spread.

Everyday Environmental Science: Orca Population Declining How is the population of killer whales in the Puget Sound changing? The killer whale population is __________.

declining in animals of all ages -The loss of animals of all ages is especially concerning.

Everyday Environmental Science: Wilderness Providing for Humanity Today, the reasons conservationists have given for protecting natural environments are shifting from arguments based upon __________ to arguments based upon __________.

ethics; economics -The total economic value of the many goods and services provided by natural systems would easily be in the trillions of dollars.

Everyday Environmental Science: China's Green Initiatives Part A: China's main source of energy contributes most to what global environmental problem?

global climate change -China primarily relies on coal for power generation

Interpreting Graphs and Data: Projections of Global Warming Part A: What information is presented on the y-axis of the graph?

global surface warming, in °Celsius

Everyday Environmental Science: Orca Population Declining Based on the health problems of Puget Sound killer whales, we would expect to find __________.

high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in salmon in the Puget Sound -The accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in food chains has led to health problems, including suppressed immune systems, in killer whales.

Focuson Figures: The Keeling Curve Part B: Now answer the question again. Which of the following graphs best represents the concentration of CO2 in Earth's atmosphere from 1958 to 2018?

jagged line curved upward (only one) -The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is going up at an increasing rate as populations get larger and people use more resources. In particular, we are adding more CO2 to the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels at a rate that is faster than it can be removed by natural processes. The concentration follows a yearly cyclical pattern as plants in the northern hemisphere grow and absorb carbon through photosynthesis in the spring and summer. In the fall and winter, plants photosynthesize less, absorbing less carbon from the atmosphere; furthermore, many plants die every fall and winter, returning carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The correct graph is called the Keeling Curve, which represents atmospheric CO2 concentration measurements collected in Hawaii. It is named after Charles Keeling who started the data collection in 1958, and data collection continues to this day.

Global Connection: Biodiversity and Conservation Part B: Only one graph shows the actual global trend. Which graph do you think best represents the real-world trend in the extinction rate of mammals and birds?

red line going up; The rate of extinction for mammals and birds has been going up over the past 180 years. -The rate of extinction for mammals and birds has been going up over the past 180 years.

Activity: The Greenhouse Effect Part B: Switching from fossil fuels to _____ energy would significantly decrease the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

solar, nuclear, and geothermal -All of these energy sources would decrease the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. However, the use of nuclear reactors is associated with other problems

Everyday Environmental Science: Orca Population Declining The health problems of Puget Sound killer whales include __________.

symptoms similar to AIDS -The suppression of the immune system by polychlorinated biphenyls produces AIDS-like symptoms.

Everyday Environmental Science: China's Green Initiatives Part D: China's government is encouraging companies to __________.

take the lead in all green technologies -New technologies are already available to reduce negative environmental impacts.

Interpreting Graphs and Data: Projections of Global Warming Part C: Which line is not a computer-generated forecast?

the black line representing 20th century data

Everyday Environmental Science: China's Green Initiatives Part B: One of China's cement factories has become more energy efficient by __________.

using the extra gas and heat from the kilns to generate electricity -Instead of just releasing this extra heat into the air, it is used to generate electricity