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
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