8.4: Part 2- Investigating the Effects of Climate Change on Local Ecosystems
Climate change is a global phenomenon that is affecting the environment and living organisms in various ways. The purpose of this part of the lab is to investigate the effects of climate on local ecosystems and understand the impact of potential human activities on the environment.
Materials :
- Field guide to local plants and animals
- Measuring tape or ruler
- Notebook and pen
- Camera or smartphone for taking pictures
- Weather app
- Thermometer
Procedure :
- Follow the nature walk instructions from Part 1
- Measure the normal outdoor air temperature and record it in your notebook along with observations about how you took this measurement such as ‘shaded area’ or ‘strong wind’.
- Take pictures of the environment to document different micro-ecosystems.
- Measure the temperature of other habitats you observe including things like soil temperature, the temperature under a small shrub, the temperature of stream water, etc.
- Analyze the data and make observations about changes in the temperature and the presence or absence of plants and animals between the different ecosystems you observed.
- Draw conclusions about the effects that climate change may have on the ecosystem and discuss the impact of human activities on the environment.
Safety Precautions :
- Always follow safe outdoor practices, such as wearing appropriate clothing and footwear, staying on marked trails, and respecting wildlife.
- Avoid touching or disturbing plants and animals, as this can impact the ecosystem and disrupt the data collected.
Field Data Collection Pages
Insert more data pages as needed.
Attributions
Part 1: Maria Morrow (College of the Redwoods) CCBY 4.0 Merlot