English Literature

Annotated Bibliography
Botkin, D.B., Saxe, H., Araujo, M.B., Betts, R., Bradshaw, R.H., Cedhagen, T., Chesson, P., Dawson, T., Etterson, J., Faith, D., Simon, F., Guisan, A., Hansen, A., Hilbert, D., Loehle, C., Margules, C., New, M., Sobel, M.  Stockwell, D.  Forecasting the effects of global warming on biodiversity.  BioScience 57.3 (2000) 227-236. Web. 04 Feb. 2010.

The need for proper forecasting of the effects of global warming on the diversity of species on Earth is very vital for the execution of necessary preventive measures in order to avoid or to lessen the perceived negative effects. Four uses of forecasting models were enumerated in this article and these were the following (1) individual species model, (2) niche-theory model that organize species based on habitat and environmental conditions, (3) general circulation models and ocean-atmosphere models, and (4) species-area curve models that takes into account the large aggregates of species. Researchers discovered that the fusion of the analysis of fossil records and modern genetic techniques can result to appropriate forecasting procedures. In general, this paper is very useful for people who seek ways on how to properly assess the potential effects of the current global warming to the assemblage of creatures on this world today.

Cox, P.M., Betts, R.A., Jones, C.D., Spall, S.A.,  Totterdell,I. J.  Acceleration of global warming due to carbon-cycle feedbacks in a coupled climate model.  Nature 408 (2000) 184-187. Web. 04 Feb. 2010.

The continuous increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is seen to render unwanted effects to global climate. While it is true that a large portion of the anthropogenic carbon  emissions are being absorbed by the ocean and land ecosystems, a big part of these absorbed carbon residues are still deemed return to the biosphere thereby creating carbon cycle-feedbacks. These feedbacks can significantly accelerate climate change in the 21st century. It is perceived that by 2050, the terrestrial ecosystem must have reached its maximum carbon dioxide uptake rate and will then act as a source that will return the accumulated chemical back in to the humans and other biological creations. Consequently, this journal article is a very informative and eye-opening scientific study and will provide basic and empirically-driven knowledge on the forthcoming effects of carbon dioxide accumulation.

Held, I.M.  Soden, B.J.  Robust responses of the hydrological cycle to global warming.  Journal of Climate 19 (2006) 5686-5699. Web. 04 Feb. 2010.

Of the many many negative effects that are associated to global warming, changes on the hydrological cycle is perceived to be one of the most alarming. Based on the experimental reports  of the Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, researchers were able to identify hydrological responses which were robust across the models and these are the following decrease in convective mass fluxes, increase in horizontal moisture transport, enhancement of the pattern of evaporation minus precipitation, and the decrease in horizontal sensible heat transport in the extratropics. Furthermore, these responses were associated to the increase of carbon dioxide emissions. Hence, this article reveals important information which can be used in order to predict the potential effects of global warming to natural water formations.  

Memmott, J., Craze, P.G., Waser, N.M.  Price, M.V.  Global warming and the disruption of plant-pollinator interactions.  Ecology Letters 10.8 (2007) 710-717.Web. 04 Feb. 2010.

Disruption of mutualistic (mutually beneficial) relationships between species is considered to be one of he ecological reactions to global warming. To further investigate this claim, the researchers of this study made use 1420 pollinator and 429 plant species to explore the changes that can occur on ubiquitous mutualistic interactions of terrestrial habitats. Researchers eventually found out that phenological shifts, as dictated by climate change and global warming, resulted to a reduction of 17-50 of pollinator species. In the long run, it is believed that continuous climate change will result to the loss of mutualistic plant-pollinator relationship that will surely signal the start of the extinction of these life forms. In general, this article provided highly vital information regarding the specific effects of global warming to symbiotic relationships.    

Root, T.L., Price, J.T., Hall, K.R., Schneider, S.H., Rosenzweig, C.  Pounds, J.A.  Fingerprints of global warming on wild animals and plants.  Nature 421 (2003) 57-60. Web. 04 Feb. 2010.

Gradual increase in global temperature was observed for the past 100 years and this is depicted by the 0.6C approximate temperature increase. In line with this, responses to global warming has been exhibited by various species and one of the most notable of these is the temp-related shifts in the lifestyle of wild animals. Meta-analyses of 143 studies reveal that the detrimental impacts of global warming is already visible to wild animals and plant species as shown by the changes on their eating habits and other physiological responses or fingerprint. These biological fingerprints suggest that the animal and plant species have been adjusting to the changes of the temperature long before this activity was even detected by man. Potential end results of these fingerprinting are reformulation of species communities, extirpations, and extinction. In general, this journal article is a very useful reference in the investigation of the dynamics of global warming and its effects to wild animals and plants.