As an Undergraduate teacher of Biological Sciences or Agricultural Sciences, you can use this set of computer-based tools to teach about the cultivation of mulberry plants as an important food source of the silkworm, Bombyx mori for the sericulture industry.
Tag: Biological Sciences
Reading: Pandemics in a Changing World
A reading that describes the relationship between climate change and the occurrence of newly emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19. This reading by Daisy Dunne for Climate Brief discusses the rise in zoonotic diseases due to changes in habitats and closer interactions of humans and wild animals. It further highlights how these interactions are exacerbated by land-use changes such as deforestation and habitat loss.
Students will learn how climate change induced changes to biodiversity and habitat could lead to transmission of viruses from animals to humans. They will further understand how and why pandemics could develop when climate change affects the biogeographical distribution of species.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- Why is there a possibility of increased incidence of newly emerging viruses in recent times?
- How could climate change increase the risk of inter-species virus spillover in the future?
- Discuss some of the factors necessary for the transmission of diseases from animals to humans.
About the tool
| Tool Name | Q & A: Could climate change and biodiversity loss raise the risk of pandemics? |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Infectious Diseases, Disease Transmission, Virus, Zoonosis, Virus Spillover, Biodiversity, Habitat Loss |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | High School |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Daisy Dunne , Carbon Brief |
| Hosted at | Carbon Brief Website |
| Link | https://www.carbonbrief.org/q-and-a-could-climate-change-and-biodiversity-loss-raise-the-risk-of-pandemics |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: Infectious Diseases In A Warming World
A reading that explains the role of climate change in the spread of infectious diseases. This reading by the World Health Organization describes the various modes of transmission of viral diseases in humans, in animals, and between animals and humans. It further contains examples of how environmental changes have affected the occurrence of various infectious diseases in humans in the past.
Students will learn about the different ways infectious diseases are transmitted and the association of infectious diseases with climatic conditions. They will also briefly understand how predictive modelling has shown that climate change could potentially result in changes in transmission patterns.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- What is the zoonotic transmission of a disease? Give examples.
- Discuss what zoonotic transmission is, in the context of the SARS-CoV-2.
- Discuss process-based (mathematical) models and their use in tracking the spread of malaria.
About the tool
| Tool Name | Climate Change and Infectious Diseases |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Infectious Diseases, Disease Transmission, Zoonosis, Anthroponosis, Virus, Virus spillover, Malaria |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | High School |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | World Health Organization |
| Hosted at | World Health Organization Website |
| Link | https://www.who.int/globalchange/climate/en/chapter6.pdf |
| Access | Online/Offline |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: Ecosystem-Based Conservation in Central Africa
Reading: Climate Change and the Decline of Insect Population
Reading: ‘Move, Adapt or Die’
A reading that discusses different aspects of evolutionary adaptations to climate change in animals. This reading by Renee Cho, Earth Institute, Columbia University, uses various examples to showcase how animals adapt to climate change and how a warming climate forces animals to ‘move, adapt or die’.
Students will learn about some of the morphological, biological, and physiological adaptations that occur in response to climate change. They will further be introduced to the concept of epigenetics, its role in phenotypic plasticity and how this differs from environmental adaptation.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- What is evolutionary adaptation? How does it differ from phenotypic plasticity? Give an example.
- How is climate change influencing evolutionary adaptations in living organisms?
- What is epigenetics? Discuss its role in phenotypic plasticity?
- Discuss why it is important to maintain large species populations and biodiversity in the context of adaptations.
About the tool
| Tool Name | What Helps Animals Adapt (or Not) to Climate Change? |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Evolution, Evolutionary Adaptations, Natural SelectionPhenotypic Variations, Genetic Variations Gene Frequency, Phenotypic Plasticity Morphological or Physiological Traits, Epigenetic Factors |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | High School, Undergraduate |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Renee Cho |
| Hosted at | Earth Institute, Columbia University |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Video: Gene Editing in Tomato Plants
A video that describes a new gene editing technology, ‘CRISPR: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats’, which could be utilized in agricultural production in response to climate change. This video by Zachary Lippman, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), highlights his use of CRISPR gene editing in two varieties of tomato plants to make them flower and ripen earlier than usual.
Students will learn briefly about growth cycles in tomato plants, and their tendency to reduce yield when days are longer. They will further understand the use of CRISPR technology in tomato plants and how this approach is useful to obtain faster and higher yields of the tomato crop.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- Discuss how climate change might impact the growth of the tomato plant.
- Discuss the role of CRISPR in agricultural production using the tomato crop as an example.
About the tool
| Tool Name | Gene editing yields tomatoes that flower and ripen weeks earlier |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Gene Editing, CRISPR, Tomato Plant, Cultivation |
| Climate Topic | Climate and Agriculture; Climate and the Biosphere |
| Type of tool | Video (3 mins) |
| Grade Level | High School |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Zachary Lippman |
| Hosted at | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on YouTube |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: GM Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa
A reading by John Agaba, Alliance for Science, Cornell University, that describes the importance of food security in Sub-Saharan Africa, in the face of climate change. This reading includes several examples of genetically modified crops and why they are favoured by farmers in Sub-Saharan African countries.
Students will learn about genetically modified crops and some arguments surrounding their utilization. They will further understand how genetically modified crops could possibly bolster food security in several Sub-Saharan African countries that are dealing with failed crops due to climate change.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- Briefly describe Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
- Why do farmers prefer to plant hybrid or genetically modified crops? List some of the examples.
- Discuss the arguments surrounding GM crop utilization in Africa.
About the tool
| Tool Name | African farmers want GMO seeds to help weather climate change |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), GMO Crops |
| Climate Topic | Climate and Agriculture; Climate and the Biosphere; Climate Mitigation and Adaptation |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | High School |
| Location | Global, Africa |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | John Agaba |
| Hosted at | Alliance for Science, Cornell University |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: Insect Behaviour and Temperature Variation
A short reading from Chapter 1, Lesson 3 of ‘Integrating Climate Change Issues in Southeast Asian Schools; A Teachers’ Guide’ that describes how changes in temperature can affect insect life cycles and populations. This lesson titled ‘Interesting Insects’ by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) highlights the implications of increased temperatures on insect behavior.
Students will understand how temperature variations can directly impact insect behavior due to their cold-blooded physiology. They will also learn about the potential increase in populations and life cycles per season of insects or pests.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- How do temperature variations affect the physiology of insects?
- Discuss how climate change can affect insect behaviour and populations?
About the tool
| Tool Name | ‘Interesting Insects’ (Chapter 1, Lesson 3, Pages 42-43: Main Concepts and Skills) |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Animal Behavior, Insects, Insect Behavior, Life Cycle, Insect Biodiversity |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | High School |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) |
| Hosted at | Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Website |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online/Offline |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Video/Microlecture: Global Warming and Sleep Deprivation
A video microlecture that discusses the potential impact of global warming on human health and sleep cycles. This video by Ryan Cross, hosted on the website of the journal Science, describes the effects of warmer temperatures on sleep quality in individuals in the United States.
Students will learn how sleep is negatively affected by higher nighttime temperatures that lead to adverse impacts on human health. They will further learn how certain vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds tend to be more severely affected.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- How does climate change induced warming impact sleep cycles?
- Discuss some negative impacts on individual health due to sleep deprivation.
About the tool
| Tool Name | Scientists warn of sleepless nights in a warming world |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Human Health, Sleep, Sleep Cycles, Sleep Deprivation |
| Climate Topic | Climate and Health |
| Type of tool | Video (3 mins) |
| Grade Level | High School |
| Location | Global, USA |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Ryan Cross |
| Hosted at | Science |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Video: Climate Change and Food Webs
Video: Evolutionary Biology: Where Do We Go Now?
A video micro-lecture that describes different ways in which climate change affects behaviour, morphology, and physiology of organisms. This video lecture by Dr. George Gilchrist, Professor of Biology at the College of William and Mary, on evolutionary adaptation highlights the difference between environmental adaptation and phenotypic plasticity, including the importance of acclimation for survival.
Students will learn about evolutionary adaptation, difference between adaptation and acclimation and how climate change may affect the distribution of animals in the tropical and temperate zones. Students will further learn why tropical organisms are at a greater potential risk of extinction due to climate change.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- What is evolutionary adaptation?
- What is the difference between adaptation and acclimation? Illustrate with examples.
- How does climate change affect the distribution of tropical populations?
About the Tool
| Tool Name | Coping with Climate Change – Evolution in the News |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Phenotypic Plasticity, Adaptation,Acclimation, Abiotic Factors,Genetic Variation, Range Shift |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Type of Tool | Video lecture |
| Grade Level | High School, Undergraduate |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | – |
| Developed by | Dr. George Gilchrist, College of William and Mary |
| Hosted at | NESCentMedia Channel on YouTube |
| Link | Video Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Video/Microlecture: Evolutionary Adaptation in Response to Climate Change
A video microlecture that briefly describes evolutionary adaptations in animals due to climate change. This video by educator, Erin Eastwood, for TED-Ed introduces the topic of evolutionary adaptation and how animals are forced to evolve to changed environments caused by climate change.
Students will learn how climate change has led to ecosystem disruptions and changes in the environment of many animal species. They will also be introduced to the difference between evolutionary adaptation and phenotypic plasticity and will understand the importance of heritable traits to the survival of a species.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- What is evolutionary adaptation? Give suitable examples.
- How is adaptation different from phenotypic plasticity, in response to environmental change?
About the tool
| Tool Name | Can wildlife adapt to climate change? – Erin Eastwood |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Evolution, Adaptation, Evolutionary Adaptations, Natural Selection, Phenotypic Plasticity, Phenotypic Variations, Genetic Variations, Morphological Traits |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Type of tool | Video/Micro lecture (5 mins) |
| Grade Level | High School |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Erin Eastwood for TED-Ed |
| Hosted at | YouTube, Ted-Ed |
| Link | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCKRjP_DMII |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment
This reading resource contains several modules and case studies on climate change and its impact on human health. Chapters (available for download or to read online ) include Temperature-related Death and Illness; Air Quality Impacts; Vector-Borne Diseases; Water-Related Illness; Food Safety; Mental Health and Well-Being.
Reading: Plant Pathogenesis
Reading: Climate Change and Crop Pollination
A report that describes the effect of climate change on animal pollinators and crop pollination. This report from 2011 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) details the different climate variables, such as temperature, precipitation and extreme climate events that affect crop pollination. It further highlights the potential economic implications of climate change on crop pollination and, thereby, on global food security.
Students will understand the effects of climate change on pollinators, and the temperature sensitivity of crop pollinators and entomophilous crops. They will further learn about how climate change has affected quality and quantity of nectar and pollen, phenological events, pollinator behavior, visitation rates, and distribution.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- What are the impacts of climate change on insect pollination?
- Discuss the importance of insect pollination for global food security.
About the tool
| Tool Name | Potential Effects of Climate Change on Crop Pollination |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences; Environmental Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Pollination, Fertilization, Insect Pollination, Pollinators, Plant-Pollinator Systems, Adaptations, Nectar Guides, Types of Pollinators |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | Undergraduate |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) |
| Hosted at | Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Website |
| Link | http://www.fao.org/3/i2242e/i2242e.pdf |
| Access | Online/Offline |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Video/Microlecture: The Effect of Climate Change on Photosynthetic Pathways
Reading: Adaptation or Plasticity?
Teaching Module: Mapping Range Shifts
A teaching module that demonstrates the effect of temperatures on species distributions. This module by Linton et al. enables students to analyze data for a chosen species, from Natural History Collections, for its range shift due to rising temperatures. It includes the following activities:
- Reading a meta analysis by Pecl et al. titled, ‘Biodiversity redistribution under climate change: Impacts on ecosystems and human well-being’.
- Investigate a species: Students can select a species they want to investigate. Students in the same group can pick different species.
- Generate Distribution Maps: Using the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), students can obtain records for the ranges of species and how these have changed over time.
- Examine Latitude Over Time: Using the GBIF database.
- Interpret Your Data: Analyzing the species range and range shifts over time.
Students will learn how to review published data to show the link between rising temperatures and potential changes in species distribution. They will further learn how to use quantitative reasoning to extract data from an aggregated dataset.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- Discuss how climate change can potentially cause changes in species distribution.
- Discuss the range shifts for the species of your choice in the classroom.
About the tool
| Tool Name | Species Range Over Space and Time |
| Discipline | Biological Sciences |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Range Shift, Species Distribution, Biodiversity, Species |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Biosphere |
| Type of tool | Teaching Module |
| Grade Level | Undergraduate |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Debra Linton, Anna Monfils, Libby Ellwood and Molly Phillips |
| Hosted at | Qubes |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
