ENVIRONMENT

Australia and South America are among the hardest hit as rising temperatures could drive the extinction of one in six species worldwide. (Nat Geo News)

Use our educator guide to learn more about teaching climate change.

Discussion Ideas

• According to the Nat Geo News article, “animals and plants in South America and Australia [are] particularly hard hit” due to climate change. Why do you think animals on these continents are at risk?
  • There’s not many of them to begin with: According to Nat Geo News, South America has “naturally small populations of native species in its tropical rainforests and mountains.”
  • They can’t relocate: According to Nat Geo News, “the ability of plants and animals to shift to new locations is constrained by oceans” in Australia and Oceania.

• Take a look at the map above. Based on information in the map and the explanation provided in the text below it, what is the major limitation of this study?
  • The “n” on the map indicates the number of studies evaluated in the new report. Most studies have focused on North America and Europe. Only four studies of extinction risk due to climate change have been conducted in Asia, for example. Only six such studies have been conducted on global marine life. (North America and Europe, however, have dozens of tests to evaluate.) We need more data!
  • Other limitations mentioned in the Nat Geo News article are “Global extinction rates also can’t take into account how climate change affects predator and prey relationships, or how fast or slowly plants and animals might move to new habitats.”

• What is a species that climate change may be at risk on each continent?
  • South America: The Nat Geo News article mentions that “climate change already is contributing to the decline of South America’s yellow crested and blue-backed manakins.” Check out our collection of resources on manakins and other birds here.
  • Australia and Oceania: The Nat Geo News article mentions New Zealand’s “tuatara, a lizard-like reptile whose eggs produce females only when nests are cool.” Check out our collection of resources on tuataras and other reptiles here.
  • Africa: The dazzling coral reefs off Africa’s east coast are threatened by rising ocean temperatures. Check out our huge collection of resources on coral reefs here.
  • Asia: Snow leopards are being forced into smaller habitats by “extreme weather events, increasing temperatures, variable rainfall patterns, more hot days and fewer cold days.” Learn more about snow leopards with this video.
  • Europe: The species range of many butterflies may shift northward, and many may shrink. Check out our collection of resources on butterflies and other insects here.
  • North America: The habitat of the polar bear, the symbol of climate change around the world, is at risk by shrinking ice floes. Take a look at polar bears’ shrinking territory with this map.
  • Antarctica: Warmer ocean temperatures may have already contributed to smaller populations of krill, the unassuming key to the entire Antarctic food web. Get a close-up of krill here.

• Are there any animals that will benefit from climate change?
  • Yep. Let the National Wildlife Federation tell you about it.
    

TEACHERS’ TOOLKIT

Nat Geo: What Animals Are Likely to Go Extinct First Due to Climate Change

Nat Geo: Changing Climate: A Guide for Teaching Climate Change in Grades 3 to 8

(extra credit) Science: Accelerating extinction risk from climate change