BIO3082 Study Guide - Final Guide: Carbon Sink, Global Warming, Atmospheric Methane
BIO-3082 NOTES
Semester 2
Exam Styles (2 hours)
• 50%
• Theory Exam: two parts
o Part 1 (70-80 minutes)
! 7 long/structured answer questions (10 marks/minutes each)
! One question per theme
! Theme 7: choice of 3 questions
o Part 2 (40 minutes)
! 1 essay from a choice of 3 questions (30 marks)
UNIT Objectives
• Describe the basic processes governing the ways in which organisms respond
to changes in their environment, from alterations in patterns of gene
expression, through differences in metabolic activities to changes in
morphology
• Explain the mechanisms by which biota cope with specific stresses in their
environments, particularly those associated with global change
• Demonstrate a critical, analytical approach to scientific research and have
developed skills in writing scientific reports
Theme 1: Causes and Mitigation of Climate Change
Lecture 1 – Human Impacts on Biodiversity
Global Change Biology
• Causes, effects, responses and mitigation of human-induced environmental
change on biota
Main Anthropogenic Threats to Biodiversity
• Holocene Extinction (ongoing)
o Due to overexploitation and habitat destruction
• Greenhouse gases emitted " climate change
• Pollution, invasive species, increasingly climate change
How Biodiversity Loss Affects Ecosystem Services
• Grasslands have shown that different plant species promote ecosystem
function across time and space
• Little functional redundancy
• Population and consumption growth " global demand for food and water
increases
o More challenging in developing nations
Biological Strategies
• Mitigation strategies
o Strategies that reduce the amount of harm posed on the environment
o Reforestation
o Renewable biofuels
o Methanogenesis inhibitors
o Bioremediation
• Conservation Strategies
o Ecosystem restoration
o Invasive species management
o Assisted colonisation
o Assisted evolution
• Tackling global change depends on interdisciplinary
• Biologists must consider wider social, economic, political and technological
factors
Lecture 2 – Global Climate Change
Critique evidence that Human Activity is Causing Climate Change
• *If given graph – interpret what it means
• Since 1950, earth’s atmosphere and oceans have warmed, snow and sea ice
have decreased and sea levels have risen
• Human influence is main cause of warming since mid-20th century
Greenhouse Effects and how it is Enhanced by
Humans
• Natural greenhouse effect – supports life on
earth
Document Summary
Exam styles (2 hours: 50, theory exam: two parts, part 1 (70-80 minutes) 7 long/structured answer questions (10 marks/minutes each) Theme 7: choice of 3 questions: part 2 (40 minutes) 1 essay from a choice of 3 questions (30 marks) Theme 1: causes and mitigation of climate change. Global change biology: causes, effects, responses and mitigation of human-induced environmental change on biota. Main anthropogenic threats to biodiversity: holocene extinction (ongoing, due to overexploitation and habitat destruction, greenhouse gases emitted climate change, pollution, invasive species, increasingly climate change. How biodiversity loss affects ecosystem services: grasslands have shown that different plant species promote ecosystem function across time and space, little functional redundancy, population and consumption growth global demand for food and water increases. Greenhouse effects and how it is enhanced by. Measured in watts per m2: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorocarbons all increase radiation forcing. Balance has been disrupted by human activity increased atmospheric co2 loading.
