Reading: Species extinction due to climate change

A review article on the proximate causes of climate change related species extinction. This article by Cahill et al in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B contains various case studies on direct and indirect effects of climate change that cause species extinction. These include habitat loss, change in biodiversity of the region and changes in species interaction.

Students will learn to assess the possible climatic factors responsible for the extinction of these species. They will also learn what are direct and indirect effects of climatic variations on the survival of a species. 

Use this tool to help your students find answers to: 

1. What causes species extinction?
2. What are the possible climatic factors responsible for the extinction of species? 
3. Discuss a case study from the reading of how climate change can cause species extinction.

About the tool

Tool Name	How does climate change cause extinction?
Discipline	Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline	Biodiversity, Conservation, Species Extinction, Endemic Species, Vulnerability of Species, Susceptibility of Species, Habitat Loss, Endangered Species, Threatened Species
Climate Topic	Climate and the Biosphere
Type of tool	Reading
Grade Level	High School, Undergraduate
Location	Global
Language	English
Translation	–
Developed by	Abigail E. Cahill, Matthew E. Aiello-Lammens, M. Caitlin Fisher-Reid, Xia Hua, Caitlin J. Karanewsky, Hae Yeong Ryu, Gena C. Sbeglia, Fabrizio Spagnolo, John B. Waldron, Omar Warsi and John J. Wiens
Hosted at	Proceedings of the Royal Society B (Biological Sciences)
Link	Link
Access	Online
Computer Skills	Basic