The Ecology of Climate Change
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isPGjChdby8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isPGjChdby8
American Museum of Natural History
Video length: 8:07 min.
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Topics
Grade Level
Regional Focus
Climate Literacy
About Teaching Climate Literacy
2d 
2dThe abundance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is controlled by biogeochemical cycles that continually move these components between their ocean, land, life, and atmosphere reservoirs. The abundance of carbon in the atmosphere is reduced through seafloor accumulation of marine sediments and accumulation of plant biomass and is increased through deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels as well as through other processes.
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Individual organisms survive within specific ranges of temperature, precipitation, humidity, and sunlight. Organisms exposed to climate conditions outside their normal range must adapt or migrate, or they will perish.
Other materials addressing 3a
Changes in climate conditions can affect the health and function of ecosystems and the survival of entire species. The distribution patterns of fossils show evidence of gradual as well as abrupt extinctions related to climate change in the past.
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Life—including microbes, plants, and animals and humans—is a major driver of the global carbon cycle and can influence global climate by modifying the chemical makeup of the atmosphere. The geologic record shows that life has significantly altered the atmosphere during Earth’s history.
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Environmental observations are the foundation for understanding the climate system. From the bottom of the ocean to the surface of the Sun, instruments on weather stations, buoys, satellites, and other platforms collect climate data. To learn about past climates, scientists use natural records, such as tree rings, ice cores, and sedimentary layers. Historical observations, such as native knowledge and personal journals, also document past climate change.
Other materials addressing 5b
Benchmarks for Science Literacy
Learn more about the Benchmarks
The world contains a wide diversity of physical conditions, which creates a wide variety of environments: freshwater, marine, forest, desert, grassland, mountain, and others. In any particular environment, the growth and survival of organisms depend on the physical conditions
If a disturbance such as flood, fire, or the addition or loss of species occurs, the affected ecosystem may return to a system similar to the original one, or it may take a new direction, leading to a very different type of ecosystem. Changes in climate can produce very large changes in ecosystems.
Changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of individual organisms and entire species.
Notes From Our Reviewers
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Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- Teaching tips are included in a PDF file: http://www.amnh.org/content/download/41762/606581/file/classroom_eco_ofclimate.pdf
- The science findings described in the film, particularly the release of large amount of carbon into the atmosphere as permafrost thaws, may be overwhelming to some learners, and as with many aspects of global change, educators should consider how to help students process the information.
- Prior knowledge of the carbon cycle, photosynthesis, and respiration would be beneficial to viewers.
- Simplified climate models, such as this one from Windows to the Universe, may complement the video and related discussion: http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/cli_model.html
About the Science
- Video examines research being conducted on the climate change in the boreal forests, its permafrost, carbon sinks and feedbacks.
- Examines the impact of wildfires on boreal forests and the resulting shift from coniferous forests to deciduous forests, the latter acting as a larger carbon sink with increased biomass production and increased albedo.
- Video notes the need to couple this emerging knowledge, such as knowledge about permafrost thaw, into climate models.
- Comments from expert scientist: This is a beautifully made movie. However, the information is passed on very quickly. This movie has beautiful footage and is very good in showing the methods of measuring aspects important for future climate change.
About the Pedagogy
- There is an essay that accompanies the video. In addition, there is a section for educators that outlines strategies for using the Science Bulletin videos at the American Museum of Natural History website.
- This video might be best suited for college undergraduates or AP environmental science in high school.
- There are a variety of data collection methods shown.
Technical Details/Ease of Use
- Great attention to detail.
- Shows scientists in the field and in vignettes explaining the science.
- Good embedded graphic visualization of coniferous boreal forests changing to deciduous forests.
- The Ecology of Climate Change can be viewed in low, medium, or high resolution.
- Auditory impaired text scroll on bottom during video helps to track storyline.
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