Textbook Question
What are 'greenhouse gases'? Why are they important to life on Earth?
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Ch. 38 Conservation Biology
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Biology: The Study of Scientific Life19
- Ch. 2 The Chemical Basis of Life17
- Ch. 3 The Molecules of Cells21
- Ch. 4 A Tour of the Cell20
- Ch. 5 The Working Cell17
- Ch. 6 How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy18
- Ch. 7 Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food15
- Ch. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance22
- Ch. 9 Patterns of Inheritance17
- Ch. 10 Molecular Biology of the Gene13
- Ch. 11 How Genes Are Controlled13
- Ch. 12 DNA Technology and Genomics23
- Ch. 13 How Populations Evolve17
- Ch. 14 The Origin of Species19
- Ch. 15 Tracing Evolutionary History18
- Ch. 16 Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists16
- Ch. 17 The Evolution of Plant and Fungal Diversity15
- Ch. 18 The Evolution of Invertebrate Diversity13
- Ch. 19 The Evolution of Vertebrate Diversity18
- Ch. 20 Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function11
- Ch. 21 Nutrition and Digestion16
- Ch. 22 Gas Exchange16
- Ch. 23 Circulation17
- Ch. 24 The Immune System16
- Ch. 25 Control of Body Temperature and Water Balance20
- Ch. 26 Hormones and the Endocrine System10
- Ch. 27 Reproduction and Embryonic Development12
- Ch. 28 Nervous Systems10
- Ch. 29 The Senses12
- Ch. 30 How Animals Move19
- Ch. 31 Plant Structure, Growth, and Reproduction9
- Ch. 32 Plant Nutrition and Transport12
- Ch. 33 Control Systems in Plants15
- Ch. 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse Environments15
- Ch. 35 Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment12
- Ch. 36 Population Ecology15
- Ch. 37 Communities and Ecosystems14
- Ch. 38 Conservation Biology14
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 38, Problem 14
Researchers studied active and abandoned pika colonies at two sites (one in southeast Oregon and one in northwest Nevada) to understand how elevation might influence pika range (see Module 38.0 and Module 38.11). Sites were classified as old (no longer occupied) or current. How would you summarize the findings?
Does this study support the hypothesis that pika ranges are shifting to higher elevations due to climate change?
What are some limitations to describing patterns in nature as compared to doing a controlled experiment?
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Examine the graph provided, which shows the elevation ranges of pika colonies classified as 'Old' (red) and 'Current' (blue) at two sites: Hart Mountain, OR, and Sheldon, NV.
Observe that at both sites, the elevation range of 'Current' colonies (blue) is generally higher than the elevation range of 'Old' colonies (red). This suggests a shift in pika colonies to higher elevations over time.
Interpret the findings in the context of climate change: Pikas are sensitive to temperature changes, and the shift to higher elevations may be a response to rising temperatures at lower elevations, supporting the hypothesis that pika ranges are shifting due to climate change.
Discuss limitations of the study: Unlike controlled experiments, observational studies like this one cannot definitively establish causation. Other factors, such as habitat changes or human activity, might also influence pika elevation ranges.
Consider additional research: To strengthen the hypothesis, researchers could conduct controlled experiments or long-term studies to directly measure the impact of temperature changes on pika behavior and survival at different elevations.
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Key Concepts
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Pika Habitat and Elevation
Pikas are small mammals that thrive in mountainous regions, typically at higher elevations. Their habitat preferences are influenced by temperature and vegetation, which can shift due to climate change. The study examines how current and abandoned pika colonies are distributed across different elevations, providing insights into their adaptability and potential range shifts in response to environmental changes.
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Habitat Destruction and Degradation
Climate Change and Species Range Shifts
Climate change is causing many species to shift their ranges, often moving to higher elevations or latitudes as temperatures rise. This phenomenon is particularly relevant for species like pikas, which are sensitive to temperature changes. The study's findings may support the hypothesis that pika populations are indeed moving to higher elevations as a response to climate-induced habitat changes.
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Limitations of Observational Studies vs. Controlled Experiments
Observational studies, like the one on pika colonies, provide valuable data on natural patterns but lack the control of variables found in controlled experiments. This can make it difficult to establish causation, as many external factors may influence the results. Understanding these limitations is crucial for interpreting findings and drawing conclusions about ecological trends and species behavior.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
What are the causes and possible consequences of climate change?
Why is international cooperation necessary if we are to solve this problem?
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Textbook Question
The human-generated increase in greenhouse gases (see Module 38.3) provides many opportunities to study the effects of climate change. For example, snowshoe hares are adapted to the climate of their habitat in the taiga of the high mountains and northern regions of North America. One adaptation is seasonal changes in fur color—a white winter coat that turns brown in the spring—that camouflage hares from a long list of predators. These color changes are triggered by day length. As increasing spring temperatures cause earlier snowmelt in the taiga, biologists have observed many white hares sitting on brown earth. Suggest how this natural experiment could be used to investigate the effects of climate change on populations and communities in the taiga ecosystem (assume historical data are available).
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Textbook Question
Will increasing atmospheric levels of CO₂ make you sneeze as well as itch?
Scientists studying the effects of rising CO₂ levels have looked at ragweed, whose pollen is the primary allergen for fall hay fever. They grew ragweed in three levels of CO₂: a pre-industrial concentration of 280 ppm, a year 2000 level of 370 ppm, and a projected level of 600 ppm. They found that pollen production increased by 131% and 320% in the plants exposed to the recent and projected CO₂ levels, respectively.
What was the hypothesis of this experiment?
Do the results support the hypothesis?
Given what you know about climate change, what other variables would you like to test, and what other measurements would you like to take?
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