GEOG 2P08 Brock University Impacts of Climate Change Ecological Case Study Lab Questions Questions (13 marks) 1. Pikas are most closely related to which t

GEOG 2P08 Brock University Impacts of Climate Change Ecological Case Study Lab Questions Questions (13 marks)

1. Pikas are most closely related to which type of animal? (1 mark)

2. Where do pikas live (Identify and describe their preferred ecosystem)? (1 mark)

3. Which two species of Pika are found in Canada? Describe the ranges of each species. (2 marks)

4. Do they migrate? Do they hibernate? How do they deal with the cold and limiting conditions of the alpine tundra environment? What adaptations do they have to cope with the environment in which they live? (2 marks) 5. What temperature is too hot for pikas? What temperature is too cold? (1 mark)

6. If global temperatures continue to rise, how will the pikas be affected in the summer? (1 mark)

7. If global temperatures continue to rise, how will the pikas be affected in the winter (Hint: think snowpack)? (1 mark)

. What is an indicator species? Do you think pikas are indicator species for climate change? Why or why not? (2 marks)

9. Why would it be appropriate to describe the pika as “being trapped on an island” by climate change? (2 marks)

Questions (10 marks)

1. What is a ‘snowline’? What happened to the snowline in California and Alaska in the short film ‘The Lost winter’? (2 marks)

2. According to Scott et al (2003) which city is Canada’s ‘greatest single market of active skiers”? According to Scott et al (2003) what was the projected impact on the length of the average ski season at Horseshoe Resort? (2 marks)

3. According to Canada’s Changing climate report, Chapter 5 – Changes in Snow, Ice and Permafrost Across Canada, what has happened to snow cover across Canada over the last several decades? (1 mark)

4. Snow water equivalent (SWE) is the measurement of how much water is present within a snowpack or the depth of water (mm) that would be produced if the snow melted. What does Canada’s Changing climate report which areas of Canada are likely to experience the greatest change in SWE? (1 mark)

5. Which Canadian city would likely still be a reliable host for a winter Olympics in the 2080s? (1 mark)

6. According to Scott et al (2020), under the worst case scenario, how many of Ontario’s five dozen ski resorts could be economically viable by 2080? (1 mark)

7. Based on your own research, experiences or ideas identify two (2) ways that ski resorts could adapt to a reduction in snow and/or a shortened winter season? (2 marks) Department of Geography and Tourism Studies
GEOG 2P08: Climate Crisis (Spring 2020)
Lab #4 – Impacts of Climate Change
Throughout the semester we have discussed many direct consequences of man-made or
anthropogenic climate change, including: increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, higher ocean
temperatures, changes in precipitation, changes in the extent of sea ice and glaciers, and thawing
permafrost. This assignment will introduce you to some of the impacts of climate change on both
natural ecosystems (including the flora and fauna that inhabit them) and our anthropogenic systems.
The questions can be answered using resources such as the textbook , scholarly journals and
appropriate web sites. All additional information and references must be referenced.
Part A – The Impacts of Climate Change ecological case study
The impacts of climate change are certainly not limited to just humans. Many organisms will
be and are already feeling the impacts of changing climatic conditions. Birds (e.g egg laying times,
migration times, etc.), fish (e.g. water temperature, dissolved oxygen, etc.), and mammals (e.g.
habitat change, weather extremes, parasites, etc.) are already impacted by a changing climate and
they will continue to feel the impacts of the change. One particular animal that many people may
not have heard of is the Pika. This assignment will use the Pika as a case study to examine the impacts
of climate change on the pika but it could be done for any one of a thousand mammals, birds or fish.
There is a wealth of information online in the form of journal articles, websites and videos on the
plight of the Pika.
To begin, watch the following three videos for an introduction to this animal and then answer the
following questions.
“The Perilous Plight of the Pika” – National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science (2015)

“The American Pika: A Climate indicator species?” – University of Colorado – Niwot Ridge Long term
research site (2013)

“Pikas in the Rockies” CBC – Nature of Things – The Wild Canadian Year (2019)

More information on the series can be found here: https://www.cbc.ca/wildcanadianyear/
Questions (13 marks)
1. Pikas are most closely related to which type of animal? (1 mark)
2. Where do pikas live (Identify and describe their preferred ecosystem)? (1 mark)
3. Which two species of Pika are found in Canada? Describe the ranges of each species. (2 marks)
4. Do they migrate? Do they hibernate? How do they deal with the cold and limiting conditions of the
alpine tundra environment? What adaptations do they have to cope with the environment in which
they live? (2 marks)
5. What temperature is too hot for pikas? What temperature is too cold? (1 mark)
6. If global temperatures continue to rise, how will the pikas be affected in the summer? (1 mark)
7. If global temperatures continue to rise, how will the pikas be affected in the winter (Hint: think
snowpack)? (1 mark)
8. What is an indicator species? Do you think pikas are indicator species for climate change? Why or
why not? (2 marks)
9. Why would it be appropriate to describe the pika as “being trapped on an island” by climate
change? (2 marks)
Part B – The Impacts of Climate Change economic case study
Canada has long been known as a winter nation with outdoor activities like skiing, snow-boarding,
snowmobiling, sledding, snowshoeing, ice fishing and skating. These activities are worth billions of
dollars to the economy in direct and indirect effects. A changing climate will have an impact on
winter activities, sports, tourism and communities around the globe.
To begin, watch the following videos for an introduction to the potential impacts to an important
season in Canada and then answer the following questions.
Videos
Vice Sports The Lost Winter – https://video.vice.com/en_ca/video/the-lost-winter-vice-sportsclimate-change-special-vice-sports/56676034353dec6d3747ab32
CNBC – https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/20/climate-change-is-taking-a-toll-on-the-20-billion-skiindustry.html
CBS This Morning – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/could-climate-change-ruin-the-winter-sportsindustry/
Articles
Yale – https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2018/02/climate-change-threatens-winter-olympics/
CBC – https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-march-4-2020-1.5484912/withtemperatures-rising-many-of-central-canada-s-ski-hills-could-be-shuttered-by-end-of-century-report1.5485080
Macleans – https://www.macleans.ca/economy/business/how-snowless-ski-resorts-are-adapting-toclimate-change/
Questions (10 marks)
1. What is a ‘snowline’? What happened to the snowline in California and Alaska in the short film ‘The
Lost winter’? (2 marks)
2. According to Scott et al (2003) which city is Canada’s ‘greatest single market of active skiers”?
According to Scott et al (2003) what was the projected impact on the length of the average ski season
at Horseshoe Resort? (2 marks)
3. According to Canada’s Changing climate report, Chapter 5 – Changes in Snow, Ice and Permafrost
Across Canada, what has happened to snow cover across Canada over the last several decades? (1
mark)
4. Snow water equivalent (SWE) is the measurement of how much water is present within a
snowpack or the depth of water (mm) that would be produced if the snow melted. What does
Canada’s Changing climate report which areas of Canada are likely to experience the greatest change
in SWE? (1 mark)
5. Which Canadian city would likely still be a reliable host for a winter Olympics in the 2080s? (1
mark)
6. According to Scott et al (2020), under the worst case scenario, how many of Ontario’s five dozen
ski resorts could be economically viable by 2080? (1 mark)
7. Based on your own research, experiences or ideas identify two (2) ways that ski resorts could adapt
to a reduction in snow and/or a shortened winter season? (2 marks)
Once you have answered all the questions save the document make sure you name & save it in the
following format:
e.g. GEOG2P08_#4_lastname_firstname_studentnumber
e.g. GEOG2P08_#4_Smith_Steve_99887766
This is necessary so we don’t receive large numbers of files with the same or similar name e.g.
geog2p08assignment4
Submitting your Assignment
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Due Date: May 30, 2020

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