7. Effects of Climate Change

Question 1

Learning Objective 1: Adaptive and Maladaptive Behavioral Changes

Climate Change Impacts

Answer 1

Climate Change Impacts
Driven by factors like rising CO2, temperatures, ice decline, sea-level rise.
Alters environment and impacts animal behavior.

Question 2

Learning Objective 2: Examples of Animal Behavioral Adaptations

Adaptive and Maladaptive Responses

Answer 2

Adaptive and Maladaptive Responses
Animals show adaptive and maladaptive climate-induced behavior changes.
Examples: Altered habitat selection, foraging, predation, dispersal, migration, reproduction, social behavior.

Question 3

Climate Change Drivers and Effects

CO2 Emissions and Temperature Rise
Surface Temperature and Snow Cover
Rising Sea Levels

Answer 3

CO2 Emissions and Temperature Rise
Climate change due to CO2 increase, temperature rise, ice decline.
Reduce emissions to curb global warming.

Surface Temperature and Snow Cover
Average temperature rise and prolonged snow melting observed.
Evident through reduced snow cover extent in the Northern Hemisphere.

Rising Sea Levels
Sea levels have risen and are projected to rise more.
Greenhouse gas limitations crucial for mitigation.

Question 4

Adaptive vs. Maladaptive Behaviours

Behavioral Responses Classification
Adaptive Responses
Maladaptive Responses

Answer 4

Behavioral Responses Classification
Responses categorised as adaptive or maladaptive.
Adaptive aids survival, while maladaptive can cause decline.

Adaptive Responses
Species adapt when changed environment resembles past conditions.
European flycatchers’ early egg-laying due to warmer temperatures and insect availability.

Maladaptive Responses
Maladaptive behaviors lead to population declines.
Elephant seals’ energy costs rise due to more diving in warmer waters.

Question 5

Examples of Behavioral Adaptations

Altered Species Distributions
Species Invasions
Population Growth
Predation Responses
Changes in Foraging Behavior
Speciation and Hybridization

Answer 5

Altered Species Distributions
Rufous hummingbirds shift wintering due to warming Gulf Coasts.

Species Invasions
Species with flexibility become invasive, affecting natives.

Population Growth
Behavioral adjustment leads to species population growth.

Predation Responses
Snowshoe hares change camouflage to adapt to shifting snow.

Changes in Foraging Behavior
Rising lake temperatures alter fish metabolism and foraging patterns.

Speciation and Hybridization
Climate-induced mating behavior changes can lead to hybridization.