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Responding to a Changing Climate

How Vernal Pool Plant Communities React

By Christopher J. Javornik, Akasha M. Faist

Responding to a Changing Climate


 

Abstract

This case study uses a jigsaw activity to introduce students to four specific plant responses to climate change: elevational range shifts, phenology shifts, community shifts, and changes in biodiversity. Students become "experts" on one of these responses by reading an article (from Nature, Science, or American Journal of Botany; not included with the case) on their assigned topic and then sharing their expertise with others in class. In order to hone their understanding and increase retention on these topics, students then learn about plant communities found in a specific system-vernal pools or seasonal wetlands typical of Mediterranean climates (a PowerPoint presentation on this topic is included). Students accomplish several small group tasks to assess how different vernal pool plant communities have responded to fluctuations in annual weather patterns and predict how these communities may respond to greater weather variability resulting from future climatic change. This case was written for mid- to upper-level ecology, plant ecology, botany, or environmental studies courses. The material covered may also be suitable for classes examining the role of weather variability/climate change in relation to plants.

   

Date Posted

02/16/2018

Overview

Objectives

  • Understand the following plant responses to climate change: elevational range shifts (attrition and community shifts); phenological shifts (over extended time periods); community shifts (novel competition and species response); and changes in biodiversity (resistance and resilience).
  • Assess how specific vernal pool plant communities have responded to fluctuations in annual weather patterns.
  • Predict how specific vernal pool plant communities may respond to future climate events.

Keywords

plants; weather variability; community shifts; vernal pools; range shifts; altered biodiversity; climate change; changing phenology

  

Subject Headings

Botany / Plant Science
Ecology
Environmental Science
Natural Resource Management

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

N/A, Directed, Interrupted, Jig-Saw

 

 

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