An Ever Changing World
An Ever Changing World
Embedded Files
The natural world is always changing-it can be slow or instant!
The natural world is always changing-it can be slow or instant!
The goal of every organism is to survive and reproduce.
The goal of every organism is to survive and reproduce.
What do they do when the environment changes?
What do they do when the environment changes?
2. Move away to find a habitat that is similar to what they are used to.
2. Move away to find a habitat that is similar to what they are used to.
3. Don't survive
3. Don't survive
How do organisms react to change in the real world?
How do organisms react to change in the real world?
Survive & Adapt
Survive & Adapt
When shaded out, plants will grow at odd angles towards the sunlight to increase chances of survival.
When shaded out, plants will grow at odd angles towards the sunlight to increase chances of survival.
Move
Move
Canada geese cannot tough it out in Canada during the winter, so they move south every year temporarily in a big migration event.
Canada geese cannot tough it out in Canada during the winter, so they move south every year temporarily in a big migration event.
Die
Die
The dodo bird could not adjust fast enough or move away quick enough when humans started hunting it, so it went extinct very quickly.
The dodo bird could not adjust fast enough or move away quick enough when humans started hunting it, so it went extinct very quickly.
Click the link for a virtual story about Ma Raccoon and her offspring's story of survival in a world full of surprise, change, and danger!
Click the link for a virtual story about Ma Raccoon and her offspring's story of survival in a world full of surprise, change, and danger!
The Next Dodo Bird?
The Next Dodo Bird?
The Karner Blue Butterfly (KBB) is a small, blue butterfly that was once found in the Indiana Dunes and all over the midwest.
The Karner Blue Butterfly (KBB) is a small, blue butterfly that was once found in the Indiana Dunes and all over the midwest.
Over the past few years, scientists have not been seeing them around anymore. What happened to the Karner Blue Butterfly?
Over the past few years, scientists have not been seeing them around anymore. What happened to the Karner Blue Butterfly?
The Main Issues:
The Main Issues:
Conditions in the Indiana Dunes (and many other places) became unable to support the butterfly population. They either died or moved to places they could survive since they could not adapt.
Conditions in the Indiana Dunes (and many other places) became unable to support the butterfly population. They either died or moved to places they could survive since they could not adapt.
Food Source?
Food Source?
The butterfly's offspring only eat wild lupine, a plant that only grows in the Oak Savanna. There may not be enough food!
The butterfly's offspring only eat wild lupine, a plant that only grows in the Oak Savanna. There may not be enough food!
Habitat?
Habitat?
KBB live in the Oak Savanna, but the Oak Savanna is an endangered ecosystem! Due to a lack of prescribed burns, the Oak Savannas are becoming overcrowded and can't support wildlife.
KBB live in the Oak Savanna, but the Oak Savanna is an endangered ecosystem! Due to a lack of prescribed burns, the Oak Savannas are becoming overcrowded and can't support wildlife.
Climate Change?
Climate Change?
The life cycle of the KBB depends on the wild lupine being sprouted at the same time as the eggs. With the shift in season timing due to climate change, the eggs may hatch and all die due to lack of food as the plant may not be ready or already gone for the season!
The life cycle of the KBB depends on the wild lupine being sprouted at the same time as the eggs. With the shift in season timing due to climate change, the eggs may hatch and all die due to lack of food as the plant may not be ready or already gone for the season!
The Karner Blues are extirpated!
The Karner Blues are extirpated!
Extirpation (local extinction) is when a species no longer lives in an area, but it still exists somewhere on Earth.
Extirpation (local extinction) is when a species no longer lives in an area, but it still exists somewhere on Earth.
They live in the United States still, but not in Northwest Indiana!
They live in the United States still, but not in Northwest Indiana!
Ask the Dunes Learning Center:
Ask the Dunes Learning Center:
Habitat Scenarios
Habitat Scenarios
Dear Dunes Learning Center,
Dear Dunes Learning Center,
I am native bird in Florida. Many new birds from the north have settled here to escape the cold for a few months. The problem is they are trying to eat the same food that I eat. It makes looking for food much harder. What should I do?
I am native bird in Florida. Many new birds from the north have settled here to escape the cold for a few months. The problem is they are trying to eat the same food that I eat. It makes looking for food much harder. What should I do?
Hi, Reader!
Hi, Reader!
You can survive by toughing it out like native tropical birds. In a few months the birds from the north will go back home, and there will be less birds to share resources with.
You can survive by toughing it out like native tropical birds. In a few months the birds from the north will go back home, and there will be less birds to share resources with.
Dear Dunes Learning Center,
Dear Dunes Learning Center,
We are a frog family who used to live in a pond by a big open field. Recently, they built a road that cuts through the field. Oil and gas from the cars sometimes drips into the pond. Anything in the water passes through a frog's wet, breathable skin. I've noticed other frogs getting sick from the pollution. What can we do about this?
We are a frog family who used to live in a pond by a big open field. Recently, they built a road that cuts through the field. Oil and gas from the cars sometimes drips into the pond. Anything in the water passes through a frog's wet, breathable skin. I've noticed other frogs getting sick from the pollution. What can we do about this?
Hello, Reader!
Hello, Reader!
Take a risk and move to a less polluted body of water. It may take a few generations for all the frogs to eventually leave.
Take a risk and move to a less polluted body of water. It may take a few generations for all the frogs to eventually leave.
Quiz Time!
Quiz Time!
Everything you need to know (plus some critical thinking skils) for the quiz is on this site somewhere. Good Luck!
Report abuse