Question

What species traits or other biological phenomena might you start tracking to determine if the biota is responding to climate change?

Answer 1

Answer: When there is climatic change the biota responds by 5 different phenomena:

1. Stasis: Stasis occurs when there is no relative evolution of species over a long period of time. Changes in stasis of such species are a response to climate change.
2. Macro-evolution: It is the evolution of species from inter-specific selection (between species). Interaction with the environment for long periods of time leads to speciation (new species).
3. Micro-evolution: Micro-evolution occurs when there is transient fluctuation of the stasis. This change provides an estimate of magnitude of change in the climatic conditions
4. Dispersal: It involves movement and colonization of biota at an area that is a favourable habitat. Dispersal of species is a response to climatic change.
5. Extinction: When the pace of climatic change is too rapid, the species undergo extinction. Thus, extinction of species is a response to climatic change.

All the above mentioned phenomenon are used to track whether the species is responding to climatic change or not.

Note: Biota means plant and animal species living in a habitat