3541.16 - Global Warming and the Effect on Plants and Animals

3541.16

Global Warming and the Effect on Plants and Animals

7.5

Subjects in biology B.Sc. up to 6th. semester

The purpose of the course is to give an overview of the climate system and the effects of anthropogenic climate change on plants and animals in marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

The main components and processes of the climate system are discussed as well as the effects of human activities on climate. The effects of changed climate on individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems. Phenological change of species, migration, adaptation Physiological and behavioral response of organisms, Demography Relative competitive abilities of species

Lectures, based on current literature and scientific publications, students assignments and presentations

By the end of the course the students are expected to be able to: - Read and communicate scientific publications on subjects concerning the climate system and its effects on plants and animals. - Understand the climate system and the main processes linking its components. - Understand the main effects of climate change on terrestrial plants. - Understand the main effects of climate change on terrestrial animals. - Understand the main effects of climate change on marine plants. - Understand the main effects of climate change on marine animals. - Identify the effect of climate change on shift of vegetation zones. - Identify the effect of climate change on plant community composition. - Identify the effect of climate change on animal community composition. - Identify the effect of climate change on the competitive ability of plants. - Identify the effect of climate change on the competitive ability of animals. - Understand what stresses global change puts on animals and plants and what possibilities plant- and animal communities have in a changing climate. - Understand and explain what phenology is and its importance to animals and plants. - Understand and explain phenological changes in various animal- and plant species caused by climate change. - Understand and explain the effect of phenological changes on migration and adaptation.

The students present orally in the subjects: 1) climate effects on marine ecosystems, 2) climate effects on terrestrial ecosystems. The presentations will be based on scientific publications

Internal

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Bogi Hansen, 2011: Veðurlagsbroytingar, Nám. Excepts from IPCC-2014 Climate Change 2014: the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Scientific papers

Jóhannis Danielsen