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This video from Vox describes the movement of Atlantic fish and plankton northward into Arctic regions as the climate warms.
There are many ecological implications of this, including changing or disrupting the Arctic food webs and changing the population dynamics of Polar and Atlantic species.
Humans are also increasingly accessing Arctic waters and impacting the food webs and ecology of this remote and rich ecosystem.
This resource effectively outlines the ecological implications of a changing climate.
The video describes the concepts of competition, energy transfer, food web dynamics, and invasive species in a well-illustrated example.
Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with the concepts of food webs and energy transfer between trophic levels.
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Differentiation & Implementation
Before showing the video, ask students to predict a typical food chain in an Arctic ecosystem. Ask them about characteristics of cold water animal species.
Consider having students draw a graphic organizer to compare and contrast Atlantic and Arctic aquatic food chains.
Discuss other regions where animal migrations due to climate change may have ecological impacts on native species.
Climate Confusion is a recommended resource for further exploration.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Related Teaching Resources
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