Ecological Consequences of Global Change

Question 1

What are the signs that we are entering a are epoch in geological time - the Anthropocene?

Answer 1

1. Nuclear radiation
2. Fossil fuels
3. New materials
4. Changed geology
5. Fertilisers
6. Climate change
7. Mass especies extinction

Question 2

What are the key components of anthropogenic change?

Answer 2

Climate change
Nitrogen biogeochemistry
Land use and land cover change

Question 3

What are other mechanisms of global change with important biological consequences?

Answer 3

Biological invasions
Over-expolitation of natural populations
Depletion of stratospheric ozone
Widespread sea of synthetic organs compounds
Acidification of the world’s oceans

Question 4

The global climate has warmed by how much during the 20th century?

Answer 4

Approx. 0.5 degrees celsius

Question 5

How far could the global average temperature go up in the next 100 years?

Answer 5

Approx. 1.4-5.8 degrees celsius

Question 6

What are indicators of climate change?

Answer 6

Elevated temperature
Glacial retreat 
Reduction in sea ica
Sea level rise
Increased drought
Increased wildfires
Change in water availability 
More frequent extreme events
Average increase in precipitation 
Increase in En Nino frequency

Question 7

What species are more vulnerable to climate change?

Answer 7

High-latitude species

Question 8

A slight increase in temperature causes what problems with coral?

Answer 8

Causes them to expel they symbiotic algae which can then lead to coral bleaching and death

A longer warming period can increase mortality

Question 9

Coral Bleaching events are likely to increase in the future due to?

Answer 9

Increased frequency of exceeded tolerance thresholds

Question 10

Undisturbed primary firsts are largely immune to what?

Answer 10

Wild fires

Question 11

Under what conditions are rainforest flammability thresholds exceeded?

Answer 11

Under dry conditions
In severe El Nino events that aggravate seasonal droughts
Deforestation - changes climate

Question 12

What fraction of the Brazilian Amazon is expected to be lost to fire?

Answer 12

1/5

Question 13

Smoke plumes = Droughts

What mechanism causes this?

Answer 13

Positive feedback cycle

Fire > Smoke > Droughts > Desiccation > More susceptible to more fires

Question 14

What is another risk to human health of rising temperatures?

Answer 14

Diffusion of tropical disease such a arthropod-borne Malaria, Lyme disease and mosquitoes carrying Dengue fever