Alaskan Animal Population

Stella Evans

Alaska has been severely impacted by global warming. As the largest state in the United States, it is made up of rainforests, tundra, glaciers, forests, and more. Each of these areas comes with its own reaction to the changing climates. Alaska’s temperatures are rising which is causing the permafrost boundary to shift north. There has been a loss of protective sea ice that has led to coastal erosion. The fish and animals that live in these areas are experiencing population changes, and that will be the focus of this unit. While studying Alaskan animal population changes, students will learn about global warming and the climate changes that have taken place because of it. Students will then focus on Alaska and the impact global warming has had on the climate of various areas in Alaska. Further, students will learn about the animals that populate these areas in Alaska, and examine how the populations have changed over the course of time. Finally, students will look at the impact climate change has had on local animal populations.