env 1003 pre midterm collaboratives

main issue - hemlock forest health

Eastern hemlock trees across the U.S. are dying off in large numbers, threatening a foundational forest species.

cause - hemlock forest health

The primary driver is the woolly adelgid, an invasive insect (originally from Asia) that feeds on sap and weakens the trees, often killing them within 4-10 years. Warming winters (due to climate change) have allowed the adelgid to survive and spread further north than historically possible.

consequences - hemlock forest health

Hemlock loss changes forest structure and microclimate (these trees create cool, shady, moist conditions), harming species that depend on them like native brook trout, which need cold streams shaded by hemlock canopy.

relevance - hemlock forest health

Hemlock are considered a "foundation species," meaning their loss ripples through entire ecosystems rather than just affecting one species.

possible solutions - hemlock forest health

Options include biological control (introducing predator beetles that eat the adelgid), chemical treatments (insecticides) for high-value trees, and breeding/preserving adelgid-resistant hemlock genotypes.

main issue - Ocean Acidification

The ocean's pH is dropping (becoming more acidic) as it absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

cause - Ocean Acidification

Human burning of fossil fuels releases CO2, roughly a quarter of which is absorbed by the oceans, where it reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid.

consequences - Ocean Acidification

Increased acidity reduces the availability of carbonate ions that marine organisms like shellfish, corals, and some plankton need to build their shells and skeletons, weakening these structures and stressing entire marine food webs.

relevance - Ocean Acidification

These affected organisms are foundational to marine ecosystems and fisheries that hundreds of millions of people depend on for food and livelihoods.

possible solutions - Ocean Acidification

The primary solution is reducing CO2 emissions; secondary approaches include protecting/restoring coastal ecosystems (like seagrass and kelp, which absorb CO2 locally).

main issue - Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Weather events — heat waves, hurricanes, droughts, floods, wildfires — are becoming more frequent and/or more intense.

cause - Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Rising global temperatures from greenhouse gas emissions add more energy and moisture to the atmosphere, intensifying storms and heat events, while also shifting precipitation patterns to worsen droughts in some regions and flooding in others.

consequences -Extreme Weather and Climate Change

These events damage infrastructure, agriculture, and ecosystems, and increase risks to human life, health, and economic stability, particularly for vulnerable and low-resource communities.

relevance - Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Extreme weather is one of the most direct and visible ways climate change affects daily life, making it a key indicator communicated to the public.

possible solutions - Extreme Weather and Climate Change

Solutions include cutting greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) alongside adaptation measures like resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and updated building codes.

main issue - Marine Heatwaves

Prolonged periods of abnormally high ocean surface temperatures, sometimes lasting weeks to months, are increasing in frequency and severity.

cause - Marine Heatwaves

They're driven by a mix of long-term ocean warming from climate change combined with natural short-term variability like weakened winds or ocean current shifts that reduce mixing and heat dissipation.

consequences - Marine Heatwaves

Marine heatwaves can cause mass die-offs of species like corals (bleaching), kelp forests, and fish, disrupting food webs and sometimes causing long-term shifts in species distribution.

relevance - Marine Heatwaves

These events can devastate fisheries and aquaculture industries and permanently alter marine ecosystems, as seen in events like the Pacific "Blob" that caused widespread ecological damage.

possible solutions - Marine Heatwaves

Solutions focus on reducing overall ocean warming through emissions cuts, alongside local management strategies like protecting resilient reef areas and adjusting fishing quotas during heatwave events.