Vulnerable Habitats & Ecosystems
Name an endangered species impacted from polar ice caps melting.
Polar Bears
What is happening to snowshoe hares due to climate change?
They are turning white for too long, allowing them to be white on green, making them easier for predation.
What are Latitudinal Shifts?
Species shifting northwards because of the rising temps.
Name one simple way one person could help climate change?
Examples:
Riding Bikes, Public transport, call your local representatives (extra 15 points), stop eating a lot of red meat, and more
Note: The idea of a carbon footprint was coined by the oil company BP to put the blame more on consumers instead of big oil companies.
What contributes to pollution?
Burning fossil fuels
AI (15 extra points) - more climate change though.
Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers
Heavy metals
Radioactive and chemical waste
Light and noise
Since 1970, what US state has already seen a seven inch increase in sea levels?
Florida
What is the major concern with painted turtle populations?
They will become all females because they are temperature-dependent sez determination (TSD)
What is the cause for latitudinal or altitudinal shifts?
Temps in north warming, allowing species for more range.
How can expanding forests help climate change?
Forests are considered a carbon sink. Also prairies are also considered a carbon sink, and are better for southern Wisc.
What impacts does pollution play on human health?
Name one-
Respiratory Illness
Cardiovascular Illness
Gastroenteritis (10 extra points)
Cancer
Nausea
Skin Irritation
How are coral bleaching events related to climate change?
As global temperatures rise, they are more prone to heat stress.
What impact is climate change playing with pathogens and disease vectors?
They are allowing them to stay in an area longer or more likely to be introduced into new areas.
Why are altitudinal shifts a concern?
As species keep moving up the mountain they might run out of room to move up. As species can not easily relocate to a taller mountain.
Why is it helpful for humans to translocate species?
Help remove barriers allowing species to move to places to populate more.
Extra 15 points if talked about issues with this too.
Name a type of air pollution
Name one-
Forest Fires
Acid Rain
Oil spills
Why is Lake Urmia in Iran cause great concern?
It shows in real time climate change is happening. That one of the biggest lakes is draining.
What is occurring with long-distance migrants in relation to ecological mismatches?
Long distance migrants are more likely to migrate due to weather changes. But they are arriving at the wrong time in correlation to the insects.
What is the graph telling us about these species?
*Pull up image*
Short explanation
Data shares that species are moving up or contacting their habitat due to climate change
Pollution Question-
What Agency was created to help with human and environmental concerns? And what Acts do they support that was talked about in lecture?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Clean Water and Air Acts.
What book was written and by who explaining the dangers of pesticides (DDT)?
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
During that time DDT was spread everywhere, people would cover their full bodies in it during war. There was not many places not impacted.
Why did the control of frequent fires create worst wild fires?
As indigenous populations used to burn forests and prairies, it got rid of a lot of the understory brush. But once this was controlled there was more brush so when fires were started they were worst. (Points will go if they talk about droughts creating being the reason that wild fires are as harsh today too)
What is causing 13 species of Hawaiian honeycreepers to have gone extinct and how does climate change play a part?
Avian Malaria.
The mosquito vector that carries the disease is able to spread to higher altitudes impacting more Hawaiian honeycreepers that previously did not to worry.
Name at 2 birds that are either moving out of northern Wisco. or moving into Wisco?
Full points- Full common name
Half point- Common name isn't complete
Moving northward:
Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, White-throated Sparrow, Swainson's Thrush
Moving into Wisco:
Carolina Wren, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Mockingbird, Kentucky Warbler
Give an example of a geoengineering
and
Explain why Dr. Peery did not think we should focus on it.
"fertilize oceans with iron to increase carbon uptake, or injecting sulfur dioxide into the upper atmosphere to increase the reflective albedo and thereby provide temporary cooling. But since the effects of geoengineering are largely unstudied and its risks largely unknown, it is a “true option of last resort” "
Dr. Peery agrees that it should not be the focus, and we know of other ways that we can handle climate change that are cheaper.
What is a dead zone, where do they come from?
Extra points: 20 - Combined, what is the size of the dead zones in the US
A dead zone is from agricultural runoff that carries nitrates that stimulate excessive growth of algae. It creates oxygen depletion from algal growth creating massive die offs.
Extra points: larger than Oregon, 400 in US Coastal areas.