Lesson 1
AIMS:
- To understand what climate change means
- Articulate some of the effects of climate change
- Describe 4 ways plants and animals adapt to change
- Recall a case study linking these ideas to Australia
Climate change
Many scientists in this new era argue about the issue of global warming and whether or not it is a human or natural issue. Studies have shown that in recent years, namely the 20th and 21st centuries, with the advances in carbon emissions, that the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is at an all time high. Warming of the earth however, is a naturally occurring phenomena as can be seen by diagram 1 below.
Figure 1 demonstrates the strong positive relationship CO2 levels and temperature have and also demonstrates that these fluctuations have occurred in previous times.
When temperatures rise, other changes take place in the world’s ecosystems. Rainfall patterns change, as some places become drier and others become wetter. Ice melts and less snow falls in both the polar regions. Sea levels rise and droughts, floods, cyclones and bushfires become more severe and more frequent. These, and other changes associated with increased temperature, are changing the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide.
When temperatures rise, other changes take place in the world’s ecosystems. Rainfall patterns change, as some places become drier and others become wetter. Ice melts and less snow falls in both the polar regions. Sea levels rise and droughts, floods, cyclones and bushfires become more severe and more frequent. These, and other changes associated with increased temperature, are changing the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide.
RESPONSES TO CHANGE
Ecosystems develop and flourish under specific environmental conditions. As climate change alters these conditions, the plants and animals within the ecosystems respond in one of four ways:
• they change their basic biology – certain animals may reproduce less often or lay smaller eggs.
• they change the timing of certain events such as flowering – certain plants may flower earlier or later depending on the conditions. This can impact on birds that rely on these plants for food.
• they die out – when a species dies out it can have serious impacts on the entire ecosystem.
• they move – in general, many plants and animals are moving towards the poles and into higher altitudes (Source 1.15), as temperatures in these places are similar to those in their previous habitats. This affects plants and animals already living in these places.
• they change their basic biology – certain animals may reproduce less often or lay smaller eggs.
• they change the timing of certain events such as flowering – certain plants may flower earlier or later depending on the conditions. This can impact on birds that rely on these plants for food.
• they die out – when a species dies out it can have serious impacts on the entire ecosystem.
• they move – in general, many plants and animals are moving towards the poles and into higher altitudes (Source 1.15), as temperatures in these places are similar to those in their previous habitats. This affects plants and animals already living in these places.
Lesson 2
Bush fires: To burn or not to burn......that is the question
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1. What is the estimated increase in bushfire days for 2020 and for 2050 according to this video?
2. What is said to be causing this increase? 3. What is a big factor to think about when trying to decide if a forest will survive or not after a fire? 4. What is "burning off" or "controlled burning"? 5. What are the opinions on "burning off" from the video. 6. Does controlled burning always succeed? Why/why not? 7. In the case of Black Saturday and according to the video presenters, would a better managed burn-off have helped save lives and homes? Explain. 8. Create a mind map poster with an image of a bushfire in the centre and impacts and management ideas. |
Lesson 3
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Questions about Evelyn:
1. What is the environment like for Evelyn? Describe the climate, vegetation, land shape. 2. Describe how you would feel in her situation? Explain the emotions you would feel and why. 3.What would be the most challenging part for you living in this situation? 4. What is the biggest concern for the community here? |
Case study: climate change and the saami
One of the largest Indigenous groups in the Arctic region is the Saami people of northern Scandinavia. Numbering around
70000 people and living in one of the world’s harshest environments, many Saami groups rely on traditional reindeer herding for their livelihood. They migrate north in spring and summer and south in winter to find sufficient food, such as grass and small shrubs, for their herds. A typical herd is made up of several thousand reindeer. Typically, Saami herders will travel hundreds of kilometres a year with their herds. While it would seem that warmer temperatures would bring better grazing conditions to the frozen Saami lands, the reverse is actually true. Warmer winter temperatures melt the snow, turning it to water. It then refreezes as a layer of ice which the reindeer cannot penetrate to reach the lichen below. This ice is known as cuokke to the Saami people and can result in their herds starving to death. The Saami respond by keeping their herds in pens and feeding them hay and straw but this food is expensive and difficult to find. These changing conditions may bring an end to the Saami’s nomadic way of life which has existed for thousands of years. |
1. How might climate change bring an end to the traditional Saami way of life?
2. Discuss with a partner and write down how climate change affects 3 of the ecosystem services (see Source 1.2). 3. Why is more solar radiation absorbed as forests move northwards? Evaluate and create 4. Construct a flow diagram that shows how plants and animals respond to environmental changes. Add examples of these responses to your diagram. 5. The Saami people are not the only Indigenous people whose way of life is threatened by climate change. Research the impact of climate change on Indigenous people in the Pacific Islands and compare their situation to the Saami. |
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