Question:
Organisms living in Antarctica are thought to be particularly susceptible to change in climatic conditions. How might future climate changes affect the distribution of Antarctic organisms?
Describe the current Antarctic climate and factors that are likely to affect environmental change. Make predictions about future changes to the environment and how this might impact the distribution of organisms in the region.
Below has the format that it could be answered.
below the template, it has exampler template with different topic.
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------ template
What do you think is the answer to the question? / What is your perspective on the topic? This is your stance or thesis.
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Why do you think this? Give at least three supporting reasons (main points)
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Use your stance and supporting points to build your plan. For each main point give a brief explanation, some evidence and/or examples you will use to support it. Provide references where appropriate.
I. Introduction
Possible ideas for the introduction:
(What does the reader need to know to understand the essay? Write as a statement rather than a question or keyword)
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Proposed thesis statement:
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II. Body - The number of body paragraphs will vary from essay to essay, you choose how many you need.
- Topic sentence:
(Include the main point making it clear how it supports your stance)
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Explanations /Evidence/ Examples (include references with each fact (author, date)):
Write as a statement of fact not as a question, heading or keyword
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- Topic sentence (include the topic and how it supports your stance):
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Explanations /Evidence/ Examples (include references (author, date)):
Write as a statement of fact not as a question, heading or keyword
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-Topic sentence (include the topic or how it supports your stance):
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Explanations /Evidence/ Examples (include references (author, date)):
Write as a statement rather than a question or keyword
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III. Conclusion:
(What are the broad implications of the essay?)
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DRAFT WRITING
Introduction and first body paragraph
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------- exampler template with different topic
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I. Introduction
Possible ideas for the introduction
Climate change
Process of OA
Somehow lead to SO
Thesis Statement : All organisms living bathed in an acidic environment will incur a metabolic cost as a result of the energy expended to maintain functioning cell chemistry this results in reduced growth and reproductive outputs. As a consequence population numbers will drop with a flow on reduction in overall ecosystem biomass and diversity.
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II. Body
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Main Point: OA has a metabolic cost for all marine organisms and affects growth, reproduction and nutrient value as a food source.[CA2]
Examples/Details/Explanations (include references (author, date)) :
Most pronounced in small organisms but is variable and dependant on pH
e.g. krill, gill & haemolymph regulation issues (Flores et al, 2012) ;
e.g. phytoplankton, reduced nutritional value;
e.g. shell forming organisms dissolution of CaCO3 shells e.g. pteropods
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Main Point: The metabolic cost on the individual results in lower numbers of individuals in a population.
Examples/Details/Explanations (include references (author, date)):
This cost results in reduced fertilisation, extended larval development time, deformities
e.g. seastar (Gonzalez-Bernat et al, 2014) detail effects at different pH levels;
e.g. urchin (Sewell et al 2014)
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Main Point: A reduction in biomass of any one species has flow on effects up and down the food chain and could be especially pronounced in the unique Southern Ocean ecosystem.
Examples/Details/Explanations (include references (author, date)):
SO characterised by high nutrient low productivity, Γ’ΒΒwasp-waistΓ’ΒΒ structure and short food chains
e.g. phytoplankton as primary producers
e.g. krill as important food source
e.g. pteropods as nutrient cyclers
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Main Point: Reduced food availability will likely alter interspecific interactions and may result in some species being driven to extinction.
Examples/Details/Explanations (include references (author, date)):
a. competition will increase as a result of less food e.g. between larger birds and mammals as a flow on from loss of krill
b. shell forming species will be at greater risk of predation due to weaker shells
c. e.g. seastars as keystone species maintaining diversity
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III. Conclusion
Effects at organism level will impact on total biomass of that species and those that depend on it for food, therefore the overall productivity and biomass of the SO ecosystem will be reduced and loss of species diversity is expected.
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Other Ideas to Conclude:
Effects growth and reproduction and is especially costly for shell forming organisms.
Will see changes as a result of effects on organisms with key functions within the SO ecosystem.
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Ideas to leave the reader with (clincher):
Global significance of effects of OA on SO (something related to carbon sink and sequestering of Carbon) or perhaps reminding reader that OA is only one consequence of climate change and that organisms will also be at risk from rising sea temps, melting ice, and invasive species.
