Question

question 12 of 18
classify the impacts of climate change as affecting human health, natural ecosystems, agriculture and food, or water supplies.

human health
increase in vector - borne tropical diseases
increase in heat - related deaths
pollution from flooding and storm surges

natural ecosystems
shifts in reptile sex ratios and reproductive potential
species extinction due to habitat loss
reduced ability for invertebrates to produce new shells and exoskeletons

agriculture and food supplies
lower crop yields
declining fisheries

water supplies
disappearance of alpine glaciers and snowpack
increase in erosion allowed by severe droughts

answer bank

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each impact and match it to the correct category:

Human health:

• Increase in vector - borne tropical diseases: Vectors (like mosquitoes) spread diseases, affecting human health.
• Increase in heat - related deaths: Heatwaves directly impact human mortality.
• Pollution from flooding and storm surges: Floods/storms bring pollution, harming human health.

Natural ecosystems:

• Shifts in reptile sex ratios and reproductive potential: Climate change affects reptile biology, part of natural ecosystems.
• Species extinction due to habitat loss: Habitat loss from climate change drives species extinction in ecosystems.
• Reduced ability for invertebrates to produce new shells and exoskeletons: Ocean acidification (from climate change) impacts invertebrates in ecosystems.

Agriculture and food supplies:

• Lower crop yields: Climate change (e.g., drought, extreme heat) reduces crop production.
• Declining fisheries: Ocean temperature changes/acidification harm fish populations, affecting food supplies.

Water supplies:

• Disappearance of alpine glaciers and snowpack: Warmer temperatures melt glaciers, reducing water sources.
• Increase in erosion allowed by severe drought: Drought - weakened soil erodes more, affecting water quality/supply.

Answer:

(matching each impact to its category):

• Human health: Increase in vector - borne tropical diseases, Increase in heat - related deaths, Pollution from flooding and storm surges
• Natural ecosystems: Shifts in reptile sex ratios and reproductive potential, Species extinction due to habitat loss, Reduced ability for invertebrates to produce new shells and exoskeletons
• Agriculture and food supplies: Lower crop yields, Declining fisheries
• Water supplies: Disappearance of alpine glaciers and snowpack, Increase in erosion allowed by severe drought

(If you need to drag and drop, place each impact in the respective box as above.)