ACTIVITY 2
Effects of Global Warming on Populations Answer Key
Name_______________________________
Date_____________________
Below are graphs showing rate of development for various insects at different
temperatures.
Temperature C
Temperature C
Temperature C
1. What can you generally conclude from the above graphs about insect development?
The Great Tit is a song bird native to the Netherlands that
primarily feed on caterpillars. With springtime coming earlier
due to climate change, the first generation of caterpillars for the
season has been hatching earlier. Butterflies usually reproduce
several times a season.
2. Based on your answer to Question 1, why does it make sense that the caterpillars would be
hatching earlier?
3. Even though spring is coming earlier, it has been observed that Great Tits are not hatching
earlier. What do you think happens to the Great Tits’ food supply by the time they hatch?
4. What do you predict will happen to the caterpillar population as a result?
5. What do you predict will happen to the Great Tit population as a
result?
6. The Eurasion Sparrowhawk is a predator of the Great Tit. Draw
a food web for the plant, caterpillar, Great Tit, and Eurasion
Sparrowhawk. Label the autotroph (producer), the primary
consumer, secondary consumer, and tertiary consumer. How
much energy is passed from one trophic level to the next?
7. What do you predict will happen to the Eurasion Sparrowhawk population as a result?
8. What is a carrying capacity? What will happen to the caterpillar population once it reaches its
carrying capacity?
9. Imagine that the butterflies resulting from the above mentioned caterpillars spread over acres
of land into more regions. In 200 years’ time you try mating a female butterfly from one region
with a male butterfly from a much further region and realize that they do not produce viable
offspring. What has happened? Explain.
10. It has been observed that by the next breeding season there is NOT a drop in numbers of the
Great Tit population. Why do you think that is? (HINT: Think about competition for resources
throughout the season)
11. Based on this new information, what do you predict happens to the Eurasion Sparrowhawk
population?