As an undergraduate Biological Sciences or Environmental Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to teach about biodiversity and the vulnerability of species due to climate change.
The biodiversity of plant and animal species on planet Earth is threatened by several factors such as habitat loss, poaching, disease, overexploitation of natural resources, and introduction of invasive species. Climate change is expected to be one of the leading causes of species decline or extinction. This lesson plan discusses the extinction of one mammal species, the Bramble Cay melomys. It is believed to be the first mammalian extinction due to climate change.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Biological Sciences or Environmental Sciences.
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
- What is biodiversity?
- What is the importance of biodiversity for the health of an ecosystem?
- What are the historical records of biodistribution of the mammal, Bramble Cay melomys?
- How has climate change lead to the extinction of the Bramble Cay melomys?
- How can climate related factors endanger the biodiversity of a region?
Teacher-submitted lesson plan, contributed by Dr. Robin Suyesh, Assistant Professor, Sri Venkateswara College (University of Delhi), India
Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.

Photo: The Conversation
Find out more: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/06/first-mammal-extinct-climate-change-bramble-cay-melomys/
About Lesson Plan
Grade Level | Undergraduate |
Discipline | Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences |
Topic(s) in Discipline | Biodiversity, Conservation, Biogeography, Endemic Species, Vulnerability of Species, Susceptibility of Species, Species Extinction, Habitat Loss, Endangered Species, Threatened Species, Mammalian Extinction, Bramble Cay melomys |
Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
Location | Australia |
Language(s) | English |
Access | Online |
Approximate Time Required |
55 – 65 min |
Contents
Video (~8 min) | A video that highlights the importance of biodiversity and briefly discusses the challenges of preventing its degradation due to human activities. |
Reading (20 min) | A review article that describes how climate change may alter the biodiversity of a region and potentially cause species extinction. |
Reading (7 min) | An editorial, ‘The Bramble Cay melomys: the first mammalian extinction due to human-induced climate change’, by Graham R. Fulton, Pacific Conservation Biology, 2017, 23, 1-3, that explains the case of the extinction of a mammalian species, Bramble Cay melomys, due to climate change. |
Classroom/Laboratory Activity
(20-30 min) |
A classroom activity to explore the existential status of local and global species of organisms using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List for Threatened Species, including the Bramble Cay melomys. The activity also includes a factsheet by the (IUCN) that highlights the susceptibility of certain species to climate change impacts. |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
1 | Topic introduction and discussion |
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2 | Explore further |
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3 | Further Reading | Use this editorial, ‘The Bramble Cay melomys: the first mammalian extinction due to human-induced climate change’, by Graham R. Fulton, Pacific Conservation Biology, 2017, 23, 1-3, to explain the case of the extinction of a mammalian species, Bramble Cay melomys due to climate change. |
4 | Explore local and global species for threat of extinction |
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Use the tools and the concepts learned so far to discuss and determine answers to the following questions:
- What is biodiversity?
- What is the importance of biodiversity for the health of an ecosystem?
- What are the historical records of biodistribution of the mammal, Bramble Cay melomys?
- How has climate change lead to the extinction of the Bramble Cay melomys?
- How can climate related factors endanger the biodiversity of a region?
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
- understand the importance of biodiversity
- explain the role of climate change in impacting biodiversity
- discuss the causes for extinction of a species due to climate change
- explain the susceptibilities of certain species to climatic variations
No Additional Resources
1 | Video; “What is biodiversity and why is it so important” | Developed by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia |
2 | Reading; “How does climate change cause extinction?” | Review article: Cahill AE, Aiello-Lammens ME, Fisher-Reid MC, Hua X, Karanewsky CJ, Yeong Ryu H, Sbeglia GC, Spagnolo F, Waldron JB, Warsi O, Wiens JJ. 201 How does climate change cause extinction? Proc R Soc B 280: 20121890. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.1890
Published by the Proceedings of the Royal Society B |
3 | Reading; “The Bramble Cay melomys: the first mammalian extinction due to human-induced climate change” | Editorial by Graham R. Fulton, Pacific Conservation Biology, 2017, 23, 1-3 |
4 | Classroom/Laboratory Activity; “IUCN Red List” | Developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) |
5 | Image(s) | Photo: The Conversation
Find our more on https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/06/first-mammal-extinct-climate-change-bramble-cay-melomys/ |
Mapped Sustainable Development Goal(s), apart from 4 and 13
