24. Climate change and biodiversity

Question 1

Global Warming process:

Answer 1

1. short wavelength sunlight passes through atmosphere
2. Absorbed light warms surface
3. warm surface emits infrared radiation (longer wavelengths)
4. infrared radiation is absorbed by atmosphere (CO2, H2O) and is converted to heat
5. More CO2 added by humans to the atmosphere and greenhouse effect is intensified

Question 2

How is the climate changing

Answer 2

• temperature increases
• circulation patterns are changing (Hadley cells get stronger and therefore larger, causing desert belts shifting poleward beyond 30 degrees)
• Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent
• Local climate changes are affecting organisms

Question 3

Phenotypic plasticity

Answer 3

organisms acclimate to new conditions

Question 4

range shift

Answer 4

organisms can migrate to suitable conditions

Question 5

Extirpation

Answer 5

organisms can go extinct globally or locally

Question 6

Acclimation

Answer 6

early or gradual exposure to environmental stress can reduce its negative impacts (exposure to warm temperatures increases high-temperature tolerance only minimally)

Question 7

example of how climate change can cause high predation related mortality

Answer 7

Plasticity alone in coat color change will not be able to respond to changes in conditions

Question 8

co-extinctions

Answer 8

The loss of a species is expected to result in the loss of other species that depend on it (Likely to be most severe in mutualisms and host-parasite
interactions)