In the article "Pandas' Home Range May Move As Climate Changes" by Alexandra Witze she reports the study that Mao-Ning Tuanmu and his colleagues of Michigan State University performed on the relation between climate change and bamboo growth and how it will effect the Qinling pandas of China. In their study they mapped the climate conditions that were preferred by the three types of bamboo species in the Qinling Mountains. Approximately 270 pandas live in these mountains and feed off of the bamboo growing there. The scientists then simulated climate change in the Qinling Mountain area and found that bamboo growth would occur more often at higher elevations, which would be less accessible to the pandas. It is most likely that there will be bamboo shortages for the Qinling pandas causing competition for land space and food.
Themes of Nature of Science
- Science is based on evidence.
- Role of chance.
- Role of motivation and curiosity.
This article seems very similar to mine but it is about pandas and mine was about polar bears. Both of this adorable species are being affected by climate changes that are mostly related to human growth. In an article I found, it said that in China the livable habitat of the Giant panda could shrink 80-100% by the end of the 21 century just like the polar bear population. It is very sad to think about the shrinking of these animals habitats, they are innocent and soon they will have no place to live.
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