Changing Planet: Adaptation of Species

As the Earth system warms due to rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the environments that some species live in are rapidly changing.  If the environmental conditions change too quickly, the species may not be able to adapt to the change, and may become threatened or even extinct.  Scientists are working to try to understand how species adapt, to help prevent loss of species diversity. Butterflies specifically are beautiful, tiny and very sensitive to climate change impacts on the environment.

Click on the video at the left to watch the NBC Learn video - Changing Planet: Adaptation of Butterflies.

Lesson plan: Changing Planet: Adaptation of Species (Birds and Butterflies)

Last modified April 8, 2011 by Roberta Johnson.

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