Monday, July 25, 2011

Climate Change Internal


Subject: Climate Change
Hey Mr Edwards i was just wondering what the last 2 questions are asking from us for the Climate Change Assignment


Hi _______
  • What is climate change?
  • Why is the topic an issue? What are the differing opinions as to the degree of damage to ecosystems by climate change?
  • What are the biological, social, ethical, economic or environmental implications of the change in biodiversity due to climate change?

I assume you are wanting clarification on the last two bullet points.

Why is the topic an issue?
An issue is one for which people hold differing opinions or viewpoints. This is an issue due to the unknown outcome of the changes we are currently observing. Scientists have a range of opinions and predictions about the impact of climate change on Biodiversity.

What are the differing opinions as to the degree of damage to ecosystems by climate change?
You should collect information that shows different opinions about the effect of climate change and possibly compare these to other explanations of changes to biodiversity that are not due to climate change.

What are the biological, social, ethical, economic or environmental implications of the change in biodiversity due to climate change?
Biological implications could be changes in biodiversity and the particular effects on named plant and animal species.
Social Implications could be how the changes in biodiversity due to climate change could impact upon groups of humans such as hunter gather tribes in the Amazon or Artic.
Ethical implications could be relate to how some activities carried out by a group of people have led to changes in biodiversity which now affect the choices and options available to other groups of people who had no part in creating the original situation
Economic implications could be how the changes in biodiversity due to climate change could impact financially on trading and other activities of groups of humans now and in the future.
Environmental implications have a large overlap with Biological implications but may include effects on abiotic factors in the environment as well as biotic factors.


I hope this helps I will also post your enquiry and my answer on the yr 13 Biology blog (without including you name) so that other students can also benefit from your question.

Regards
Mr Edwards

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Biology - Level 3 » NZQA

Just in case you had forgotten what we are here to do in 2011 here is a link to the NZQA documents about Biology.


Friday, July 8, 2011

The Time of Our Lives

This link has some further details about biological clocks and the genes that a responsible for their operation. The Time of Our Lives