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Chapter 18 Climate Change Demands New Conservation Strategies

Discussion Questions

  1. This chapter introduced several ways that species are responding to climate change. Are there other ways that species might respond, and how could biologists measure those responses?
  2. What types of species are likely to be most vulnerable to climate change, and why?
  3. Plans for the recovery of threatened and endangered species typically specify the number of individuals and the number of populations required before the species can be considered recovered. How do you think the prospect of climate change should alter recovery goals for threatened or endangered species?
  4. If you were trying to persuade the man or woman on the street to change his or her patterns of consumption to reduce CO2 emissions and, in turn, mitigate climate change, what would you say? What specific examples and language would you use?
  5. Increases in greenhouse gas emissions are a major global change that affects biodiversity. Discuss other global changes you think are major threats to biodiversity, focusing on changes and impacts that cross national boundaries so that one country’s behavior can undermine any local action taken by its neighbor.
  6. Chapter 17 discussed the threat of invasive species. How might climate change influence each stage of the invasion process (introduction, escape, naturalization, becoming so abundant as to cause ecological or economic harm)?
  7. Discuss the pros and cons of assisted migration for an alpine plant species known to exist near the peak of only one mountain. What features, besides appropriate future climate, would you look for in an ideal release site?

Group Projects

Useful Websites

Major Climate Modeling Centers

Suggested Readings for In-class Discussion