Wild Ways: Assessing How Climate Change May Affect Certain Wildlife

Article Upper Elementary 1 Classroom Period Climate

Identifying which species may be the most vulnerable to a changing climate is important. This information can help people make decisions about how to best manage the land. It can also help make better decisions to support wildlife. In this study, the scientists wanted to learn more about species living in and around the Coronado National Forest.

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Animals and Ecosystems of the Southwestern United States Investi-gator (Rocky Mountain Research Station) - Vol. 3 No. 1

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Glossary

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average
(av (ǝ) rij): A value that is computed by dividing the sum of a set of terms by the number of terms.
cay
(kē): A low island or reef of sand or coral.
conserve
(kǝn sǝrv): To avoid wasteful or destructive use of something.
endangered species
(in dān jǝrd spē sēz): A plant or animals with so few individual survivors that the species could become extinct in the area where it naturally lives.
extinction
(ik stiŋk shən): The state of no longer existing.
Federal Species of Concern
(fe d(ə-)rəl spē sēz əv kən sərn): Species which might need special help. Species of concern do not receive legal protection.
habitat
(ha bә tat): The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows.
reef
(rēf): A chain of rocks or coral or a ridge of sand at or near the surface of the water.
specialized
(spe shə līzd): Designed, trained, or fitted for one particular purpose or occupation.
species
(spē sēz or spē shēz): A category of living things that ranks below a genus, is made up of related individuals able to produce fertile offspring, and is identified by a two-part scientific name.
taxonomic
(tak sə nä mik): Having to do with the orderly classification of living things according to their presumed natural relationships.
vertebrate
(vərt ə brət or vərt ə brāt): Any of a large group of animals (such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes) that typically have a bony or cartilaginous backbone which replaces the notochord, a distinct head containing a brain which arises as an enlarged part of the nerve cord, and an internal usually bony skeleton and including some primitive forms (such as lampreys) in which the backbone is absent and the notochord persists throughout life.
vulnerability
(vəl n(ə-) rə bi lə tē): The state of being vulnerable.
vulnerability index
(vəl n(ə-) rə bi lə tē in deks): A system for generating a number that indicates how vulnerable something is to something harmful. In this study (“Wild Ways”), scientists collected data about each species and then answered questions about how each species could be affected by climate change. The scientists then were able to calculate numbers, called scores. Higher scores indicated higher predicted vulnerability.
vulnerable
(vəl n(ə-)rə bəl): Open to attack or damage.

Standards addressed in this Article:

Social Studies Standards

People, Places, and Environments
Science, Technology, and Society
Time, Continuity, and Change

About Investi-gator

The Investi-gator is another member of the Natural Inquirer family. The Natural Inquirer, for middle school students, and the Investi-gator, for upper elementary students, present science the way scientists most often share their research with each other. That process is the written scientific paper. Each Investi-gator article presents research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. All the research in the Investi-gator is concerned with nature or with society’s relationship to nature.

Meet the Scientist

An introduction to the scientist or scientists who conducted the research.
Thinking About Science

A short introduction to something about the scientific process that is related to the research being presented.
Thinking About the Environment

A short introduction to something about the natural environment that is related to the research being presented.
Introduction

The part of the written scientific paper that introduces the scientific problem or question the scientists wants to solve or answer.
Method

The part of the written scientific paper that describes how the scientists collected and analyzed their data or information.
Findings

The part of the written scientific paper that describes what the scientists discovered.
Discussion

The part of the written scientific paper that summarizes the research and offers any new insights.
Reflection Section

These are questions placed after the Introduction, Methods, Findings, and Discussion sections. The purpose of the questions is to help students think about what they have read.
Glossary

Possible new terms you will find in the article. Glossary words are printed in bold in the article.
FACTivity

This is an activity that you can do in your classroom.

Education Files

Animals and Ecosystems of the Southwestern United States Investi-gator (Rocky Mountain Research Station) - Vol. 3 No. 1

FACTivity – Wild Ways