Content Source: CLEAN

SUMMARY

Video length: 6:25 min.

Selected for the CLEAN Collection.

This video addresses the impact of climate change on several butterfly populations. Warming temperatures lead to shifts in location of populations of butterflies or die-offs of populations unable to adapt to changing conditions or shift to new locations.

GOALS

Following suggestions are by CLEAN reviewers:

This video may be used as a good way to introduce the linkages between biological adaptation and evolution and climate change to students.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION AND TEACHING MATERIALS

Watch >> Changing Planet: Adaptation of Species (Birds and Butterflies)

TEACHING NOTES / CONTEXT FOR USE

CLEAN reviewers comments about this resource:

  About the Science

•   Butterflies are very good indicators of the health of the ecosystem they are in.

•   If habitat is degrading, butterflies will show the impacts first.

•   Over the last 30 years, shifts have occurred where butterflies live.

•   Their areas of residency are shifting - whole populations go extinct while other areas regain populations.

•   The average location of a population today is about 100 miles further north of where is used to be.

•   Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

• About the Pedagogy

• • The video is treated as a standalone: a lesson plan is available with it in the Windows to the Universe site ( http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/changing_planet?adaptation_species_intro.html ).

ASSESSMENT

Assessment is at the discretion of the educator and how this resource is applied.