Environmental Science:synthesis across disciplines

Roberto QuinlanDepartment of Biology

Climate change is the greatest threat to global ecosystems we

are currently facing

How could humans influence climate?

• Atmospheric physics & chemistry

Is the Earth actually warming?

• oceanography, meteorology

So what does this all mean for ecosystems?

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coralreef-climate.html

Looking at just 3 species, just in the United States…

Yellow star thistle plant – invasive species, problem for grazing areas

Agricultural insect pest

Rochlin et al. 2013 PloS One 8(4): e60874

Potential vector for zika virus

Let’s bring economists, health professionals, politicians, armies into the mix…

http://thebritishgeographer.weebly.com/the-impacts-of-climate-change1.html

Let’s bring engineers in too, why not?

http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2008/03/03/geo-sequestration/

http://cleantechnica.com http://gazettereview.com/2015/03/japan-to-build-sea-walls/