Questions about research assessment

I hope every one is getting a good collection of research for our internal assessment. In the past weeks I've fielded a number of questions that I thought I'd share with everyone. If you have any more questions please feel free to email or ask in a comment.

Firstly, Can we copy and paste our info off the Internet into a word document (with sources) so we only get the relevant info, or does it have to be printed off the source?

Yes I am happy for you to process you research in this way as long as it crystal clear what the source of the material is.

Can we make the links about loss of species leading to lack of biodiversity leading to ecosystem damage? Or do we have to find research that explicitly states the loss of biodiversity etc?

Biodiversity and ecosystem damage are very often closely linked and depending upon the situation you are looking at it could be the damage to the ecosystem is the drop in biodiversity, while in other cases it could be that damage to the ecosystem then results in a drop in biodiversity. You do need to make it clear in your essay about the situation you are referring to.

Your research can therefore not explicitly state loss of biodiversity if you can make a sensible argument that the ecosystem damage could then lead to biodiversity changing.

Can we cut and Paste our research by question ie cut it up if it answers 2 points, or does all the info the same source have to be together?

Yes arrange it as it best suits you as long as it is clear where you got the research from.

For the effect of climate change on Biodiversity do we research what is happening to species now AND what will happen in the future or just the future?

The essay is future focused and it could get very long if we analyse the current status to much.

Are we looking for Controversy around whether climate change is occurring, or the effect this will have on biodiversity ie the different effects it could have or how severe?

The controversy we are interested in is focused upon the effects it will have when it occurs. Viewpoints upon its likely severity could also have some relevance.

can we include opinions that it will be beneficial for the ecosystems?

Yes especially if the benefits can be linked to biodiversity changes.

can we write about the increase of algae growth in rivers due to increasing temperatures (as the plant example)  and then link that to decreasing biodiversity in other species (ie algae decrease oxygen, less oxygen= less fish life which means a economic impact as less fish can be caught) ? As opposed to talking about the biodiversty of the algae?

I see no problem with your example. The effect on biodiversity could be direct, or as in the case you mention, a secondary or consequential effect to climate change. For me one of the main characteristics of ecological systems is that there are so many levels of links and interactions between living things and their environment

for the internal, when talking about species, do we have to have detailed into about a few selected species, or can it be lots of brief examples? such as:

 " In Africa, the nyala is vulnerable to expected habitat change in Malawi's Lengwe National Park, and scientists have predicted that South Africa's red lark could lose its entire remaining habitat. Most climate models suggest large-scale habitat losses in the prairie pothole region of North America, which produces 50-80% of the continent's ducks. Other studies predict almost complete loss of high altitude whitebark pine in Yellowstone National Park and of the unique Fraser fir-red spruce forest of the southern Appalachians and Great Smoky, Mountains National Park. " (habitat loss as a result of climate change) 

The example you give would be fine, you may want to spell it out for the reader that; habitat loss leads to extinction for the species in question and therefore a drop in biodiversity for the examples you mention.

can we use resources stating the impacts of just global warming (as well as others about climate change), rather than 'climate change' for all the sources? yes

also, for the degree of damage, i have found views stating 

' biodiversity will be improved' and 'many species will be extinct' '50% species loss predicted' and 'some species will benefit' and 'climate change is predicted to become a major driver of biodiversity loss' and 'climate change exacerbates other stressors' etc, are those what differing views we are looking for?

This is one area of dispute between scientists which is relevant. In addition the idea that factors apart from climate change may be responsible for biodiversity changes is also of relevance in your discussion.

and for implications, can they be general resulting from biodiversity loss, or do they specifically have to be a result of loss of biodiversity due to climate change?  I think the best tack to take is that climate change  leads to biodiversity loss and biodiversity loss has implications that follow ie social, economic etc. the biological impact is the biodiversity loss and the follow on effects when considering food chains and webs and interactions between species.

lastly do we have to discuss how scientists make their predictions (climate models, based on previous climate changes etc) ? only briefly if at all, focus on the effect on biodiversity