Saturday, May 21, 2016

Global Change



Global change refers to climate change.  It is not specific to ‘global warming’ but addresses both the cooling and heating of the earth.  It also doesn’t place fault on a depleting ozone layer, human activity, or the Milankovitch cycles (earth tilt and wobble), but encompasses all reasons why the earth warms and cools. 

Global change does affect grasslands because as the earth warms or cools, grasses will either dominate, disappear, or have a symbiotic relationship with the ecosystem.  I believe the most pronounced effect on grasslands would take effect in the Great Basin range because it relies on the little amount of precipitation it currently gets.  With less precipitation and warmer weather, this area will lose all of the grassland vegetation and it will turn into another Dust Bowl.  Not only does this affect the grasses, but it will affect all living organisms that rely on the grasses for survival. 

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