Climate Change Consequences

Question 1

What causal chain describes how increasing global temperatures can lead to trophic cascades and the need for habitat conservation?

Answer 1

Global temp. increase due to greenhouse gas emissions → Habitat loss (less colder habitats) → trophic cascade (ex. loss of prey) → habitat needs to be conserved

Question 2

What causal chain describes how warming surface temperatures cause species range shifts and new species interactions?

Answer 2

Warmer surface temperatures → Populations shift towards poles/upper elevations (cooler) → new interspecies relationships

Question 3

What causal chain describes how warmer winters can lead to increased predation and reduced populations?

Answer 3

Warmer winter temps. → less snow pack → invasion of non-native predators (coyotes) → increased competition for prey → reduced population

Question 4

What causal chain describes how warmer winters cause earlier migration that may not match optimal breeding conditions for birds such as the Golden winged Warbler?

Answer 4

Warmer Winter temperatures → short distance migrating birds arrive earlier. → earlier arrivals may appear prior to optimal breeding or feeding conditions → short distance migrating birds may drop off or experience poorer conditions

Question 5

What causal chain describes how warmer springs can cause pollination mismatches and biodiversity loss?

Answer 5

Warmer than average spring temps → earlier flowering before pollinators (bees & bumblebees) can emerge → reduced pollination & lower seed production; less nectar available for pollinators → decline in pollinator populations and native plant reproduction; ultimately the reduction of biodiversity

Question 6

What causal chain describes how ocean warming contributes to coral reef biodiversity loss and how conservation could address it?

Answer 6

Ocean Warming → Green House gases → Algal Bloom (coral reef bleaching = loss of biodiversity) → Limiting Nutrient Pollution (decrease the use of fertilizer)

Question 7

What causal chain describes how decreasing oxygen levels and warming increase species vulnerability in marine ecosystems?

Answer 7

Decreasing Oxygen Levels → Eutrophication (deoxygenation causing nutrient runoff) / Warming → Species Vulnerability (Lack of oxygen causing to only be able to live in a narrow range) → Marine protected areas / Downwelling pumps (Temporary relief for hypoxia)

Question 8

What causal chain describes how ocean acidification affects shell-forming marine organisms and the conservation response?

Answer 8

Ocean acidification → absorption of CO₂ / decrease in pH → reduction of calcium carbonate that is used to form shells and skeleton (oysters, mussels, clams) → reduction of carbon emissions by transitioning to renewable energy (gas, oil, coal to solar or wind)

Question 9

What causal chain describes how increased precipitation can cause ecosystem degradation through flooding?

Answer 9

Higher precipitation (due to greater evaporation & hotter temps) → storm/floods → habitat destruction, sedimentation, erosion → ecosystem loss/degradation & population decline

Question 10

What causal chain describes how rising temperatures increase wildfire frequency and reduce carbon sequestration?

Answer 10

Increase in temps → drying of vegetation → increased wildfires (higher than the normal/regenerative rate) → vegetation loss and decreased carbon sequestration

Question 11

What causal chain describes how poor soil conditions and habitat removal can lead to desertification and reduced species populations?

Answer 11

Poor Soil nutrition/fertility & habitat removal (due to human pollution) → Habitat Desertification (vegetation loss & soil erosion) → decreased resources available limiting species population → habitat preservation (limiting resource gathering/hunting)

Question 12

What causal chain describes how rising temperatures affect wetland oxygen levels and greenhouse gas emissions?

Answer 12

Rising temperatures → upper water level evaporation → less O₂ availability for plants and more anaerobic microbial activity → higher greenhouse emissions and less C storage

Question 13

What causal chain describes how drought and altered precipitation affect aquatic ecosystems and lead to conservation responses?

Answer 13

Increased droughts and altering of precipitation → Reduced river flow and higher water temperatures decrease levels of dissolved oxygen and increase nutrient concentration → More harmful algal blooms and fish deaths in lakes and rivers → improve watershed management and wetland restoration