Ecosystems in Flux
How Climate Change Shifts the Balance
Concept in Focus
“I can analyze how biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) things affect each other in an ecosystem, and evaluate how climate change can throw off that balance.”
Aligned with NGSS HS-LS2-6
Can One Degree Change Everything?
How could a small temperature change affect an entire ecosystem?
Click the photos to learn more!
Slide to See Effects
Water
Plant Photosynthesis
Temperature
Root Support & Nutrients
Soil & Rocks
Biodiversity
Sunlight, Water & CO2
Animal Hydration
Climate Change as the Game Changer
Hover over each biome below to see how factors affect each other.
Chain Reaction Challenge
Checkpoint!
Drag the correct Biotic effect to its corresponding Abiotic cause.
Cause
Temperatures rise by 4 degrees celsius.
Cause
Cause
Severe storms and flooding become more prevalent.
Prolonged drought reduces freshwater availability.
Cause
Ocean temps rise and water becomes more acidic.
Effect
Coral reefs bleach and marine biodiversity declines.
Effect
Soil nutrients are washed away, reducing plant growth.
Effect
Plants cannot survive the heat and some species die off.
Effect
Plants die and animals migrate to find water.
Dissecting the Data
Click the graph to enlarge!
Can we Restore the Balance?
Name one small abiotic change/cause that could shift life in your local ecosystem, and list two biotic effects from that change.
Ecosystems are resiliant if we protect the balance!
Coral Bleaching
Rising temperatures cause coral reefs to "bleach," in essence losing their color and food source along with it leaving them to starve.As temps rise the ocean chemistry changes, becoming more acidic as it absorbs more CO2. This affects the reproductivity of marine organisms.
Ecosystems are resilient, if we protect the balance.
Now you can explain the cause-and-effect relationships between biotic and abiotic factors and evaluate how climate change impacts the stability of ecosystems! Great Job!
Animal Migration
Rising temperatures can affect animal migration by changing the seasons and altering migration patterns. This can disrupt the flow of food webs within an ecosystem. It can impact habitat establishment and availability. These factors can then lead to reduced breeding.
Ecosystems are resiliant if we protect the balance!
Deforestation
Rising temperatures cause changes in the balanced growing conditions within forests. This increases the prevalence of wildfires, droughts and pest outbreaks.These factors lead to tree damage, reduced carbon storage, and changes in species makeup.
Notice the relationship between biotic & abiotic factors?
Ecology Unit: Biomes
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Transcript
Ecosystems in Flux
How Climate Change Shifts the Balance
Concept in Focus
“I can analyze how biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) things affect each other in an ecosystem, and evaluate how climate change can throw off that balance.”
Aligned with NGSS HS-LS2-6
Can One Degree Change Everything?
How could a small temperature change affect an entire ecosystem?
Click the photos to learn more!
Slide to See Effects
Water
Plant Photosynthesis
Temperature
Root Support & Nutrients
Soil & Rocks
Biodiversity
Sunlight, Water & CO2
Animal Hydration
Climate Change as the Game Changer
Hover over each biome below to see how factors affect each other.
Chain Reaction Challenge
Checkpoint!
Drag the correct Biotic effect to its corresponding Abiotic cause.
Cause
Temperatures rise by 4 degrees celsius.
Cause
Cause
Severe storms and flooding become more prevalent.
Prolonged drought reduces freshwater availability.
Cause
Ocean temps rise and water becomes more acidic.
Effect
Coral reefs bleach and marine biodiversity declines.
Effect
Soil nutrients are washed away, reducing plant growth.
Effect
Plants cannot survive the heat and some species die off.
Effect
Plants die and animals migrate to find water.
Dissecting the Data
Click the graph to enlarge!
Can we Restore the Balance?
Name one small abiotic change/cause that could shift life in your local ecosystem, and list two biotic effects from that change.
Ecosystems are resiliant if we protect the balance!
Coral Bleaching
Rising temperatures cause coral reefs to "bleach," in essence losing their color and food source along with it leaving them to starve.As temps rise the ocean chemistry changes, becoming more acidic as it absorbs more CO2. This affects the reproductivity of marine organisms.
Ecosystems are resilient, if we protect the balance.
Now you can explain the cause-and-effect relationships between biotic and abiotic factors and evaluate how climate change impacts the stability of ecosystems! Great Job!
Animal Migration
Rising temperatures can affect animal migration by changing the seasons and altering migration patterns. This can disrupt the flow of food webs within an ecosystem. It can impact habitat establishment and availability. These factors can then lead to reduced breeding.
Ecosystems are resiliant if we protect the balance!
Deforestation
Rising temperatures cause changes in the balanced growing conditions within forests. This increases the prevalence of wildfires, droughts and pest outbreaks.These factors lead to tree damage, reduced carbon storage, and changes in species makeup.
Notice the relationship between biotic & abiotic factors?