BIO 120 Milestone One

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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120

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Geography

Date

Dec 6, 2023

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docx

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Uploaded by MateAtomSheep28

I. Introduction The topic I chose for my biology presentation is global warming/climate change now you may be thinking what's the difference between climate change and global warming? Well according to What Is the Difference Between Global Warming and Climate Change? | U.S. Geological Survey, 2017 A lthough people tend to use these terms interchangeably, global warming is just one aspect of climate change. Global warming refers to the rise in global temperatures due mainly to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Climate change refers to the increasing changes in the measures of climate over a long period of time including precipitation, temperature, and wind patterns. Climate change and global warming are both significant and interesting to me because almost every element of our lives is impacted by the climate including; our food supplies, transportation systems, clothing choices, and even vacation destinations. It significantly impacts our future, our physical well-being, and our means of subsistence. According to Climate Change Impacts, 2021 global temperatures rose about 1.98°F (1.1°C) from 1901 to 2020, but climate change refers to more than an increase in temperature. It also includes the rise of sea levels, changes in weather patterns such as droughts and flooding, and much more. Things that we depend upon and value such as water, energy, transportation, wildlife, agriculture, ecosystems, and human health are experiencing the effects of a changing climate. Biology and global warming/climate change are intertwined with one another because they solely depend on each other according to McCarty et al., 2009 As scientists became aware of the rate of current climate change, they observed long-term datasets to determine if climate change was impacting biological systems. Some of the longest-running quantitative records of

biological systems are observations of seasonal biological events. In many areas of the globe, records of the timing, or phenology, of events such as when birds migrate and when leaves or flowers appear in the spring go back decades or more. This data provides strong evidence for widespread changes in the timing of biological events linked to the climate changes experienced over the same period of time. II. Topic A. Where: Climate change and global warming occur everywhere and affect all living and non-living things according to USGCRP 2014, Climate change affects the living world, including people, through changes in ecosystems, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Ecosystems entail all the living things in a particular area as well as the non-living things with which they interact, such as air, soil, water, and sunlight. Biodiversity refers to the variety of life, including the number of species, life forms, genetic types, habitats, and biomes (which are characteristic groupings of plant and animal species found in a particular climate). Biodiversity and ecosystems produce a rich array of benefits that people depend on, including fisheries, drinking water, fertile soils for growing crops, climate regulation, inspiration, and aesthetic and cultural values. These benefits are called ecosystem services some of which, like food, are more easily quantified than others, such as climate regulation or cultural values. Changes in many such services are often not obvious to those who depend on them. B. How: Climate Change and global warming occur when greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere and then trap the sun's heat and do not allow that heat to leak back into space which then causes global warming this then begins to affect the ecosystems because climate affects the development of plants, the behavior of animals, the viability

of certain species, and their interactions with the physical environment. The creatures that make up ecosystems sense the consequences of altered habitat temperatures, precipitation patterns, and other changes. According to Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystems | US EPA, 2022, As the climate changes, some species will adapt by changing their behavior, physical characteristics, or how their bodies function. Others will not be able to adapt. As a result, climate change could lead to expansions, reductions, or extinctions of some populations. These changes, in turn, can affect the overall biodiversity of a region. C. Who: Within the ecosystem, we know that there is a chain of food webs, and when there is an alteration in climate around the world not only does it affect species and their ability to adapt and reproduce but it also begins to affect the food web that occurs within that ecosystem for example, climate change is increasing the spread of invasive species in some areas. An invasive species is one that is not native to an area. Invasive species can outcompete native plants and animals, bring in new diseases, and cause other problems. These changes can create significant environmental and economic harm. As ocean water warms, invasive fish species, such as the tropical lionfish, are expected to move north along the Atlantic coast, threatening native species. This can also hurt humans, as lionfish are venomous and can sting people. Climate change can also affect food webs. A food web is the whole set of feeding relationships among different organisms in an ecosystem. At the bottom of a food web are organisms like plants and plankton. Other animals, higher in the web, rely on them as food sources. Climate impacts on any part of a food web can affect the whole system and even other ecosystems altogether. From the example above, if young fish cannot find enough food in the estuaries, their predators in the ocean could feel the effects as well (Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystems | US EPA, 2022.

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References:  Climate change impacts . (2021, August 13). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 16, 2023, from https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts  McCarty, J., Wolfenbarger, L., & Wilson, J. (2009, May 15). Biological Impacts of Climate Change . unomaha.edu. Retrieved September 17, 2023, from https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-arts-and-sciences/environmental-studies/about- us/john-mccarty/docs/papers/McCartyetalEncyLifeSci2009.pdf  What is the difference between global warming and climate change? | U.S. Geological Survey . (2017, June 5). https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-difference-between-global- warming-and-climate-change#:~:text=“Global%20warming”%20refers%20to%20the, %2C%20temperature%2C%20and%20wind%20patterns .  USGCRP (2014). Groffman, P. M., P. Kareiva, S. Carter, N. B. Grimm, J. Lawler, M. Mack, V. Matzek, and H. Tallis, 2014: Ch. 8: Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Services. Climate Change Impacts in the United States : The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research Program, 200-201.  Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystems | US EPA. (2022, December 13). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-impacts-ecosystems  National Climate Assessment . (n.d.). National Climate Assessment. https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/ecosystems

BIO 120 Milestone One

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