A classroom/laboratory activity to analyze the distribution of beetle, mammal, and plant species (for datasets from North America) in the past (based on fossil records), determine whether the same species exist today, and compare the past and present geographic ranges and ecosystems of these species.
Students will create maps, analyze data, and interpret their findings to learn how organisms have survived climate change since this last glacial maximum (LGM). Students will determine ecoregion changes over the past 20,000 years and the resulting geographic range shifts for some species.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
How does climate change affect ecoregions?
Describe the geographic range shift of the beetle species that lived in eastern Iowa during the last glacial maximum (based on the data provided in the activity).
About the Tool
Tool Name
Beetles, Mammals, and Plants: Is Climate Driving Range Shifts Since the Last Glacial Maximum
Discipline
Biological Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline
Biodiversity, Animal Diversity, Evolution and Behavior, Species and Speciation, Ecology, Populations, Zoogeography
Climate Topic
Climate and the Biosphere
Type of Tool
Laboratory Activity
Grade Level
Undergraduate
Location
North America
USA
Iowa
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Christian George (High Point University), Jessie Rock (North Dakota State University), Allan Ashworth, North Dakota State University)
Hosted at
Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
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