📚 Topic Summary
Climate change, driven by increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, significantly impacts Earth's biodiversity. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and ocean acidification threaten species survival and disrupt ecosystems. Biodiversity loss, in turn, weakens ecosystem resilience, reducing their ability to withstand and recover from environmental changes. Understanding the intricate relationship between climate change and biodiversity is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies and mitigating the impacts of a changing world.
🧪 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the term to its correct definition:
| Term |
Definition |
| 1. Greenhouse Effect |
A. The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. |
| 2. Biodiversity |
B. The trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface. |
| 3. Carbon Sink |
C. A long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates. |
| 4. Climate Change |
D. A natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates and stores some carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period. |
| 5. Ocean Acidification |
E. The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) from the atmosphere. |
(Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C, 5-E)
🌍 Part B: Fill in the Blanks
The increasing concentration of __________ gases in the atmosphere is the primary driver of climate change. This leads to a rise in global __________, which affects various ecosystems. Deforestation reduces the number of __________, exacerbating the problem by limiting carbon sequestration. Protecting __________ is essential for maintaining ecological balance and mitigating the effects of climate change. The melting of __________ contributes to rising sea levels.
(Answers: greenhouse, temperatures, trees, biodiversity, glaciers/ice)
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
Discuss the potential impacts of climate change on a specific ecosystem (e.g., coral reefs, rainforests, arctic tundra). What are the key threats, and what conservation strategies could be implemented to protect biodiversity in that ecosystem?