Climate Change and Seasonality: Using Nicrophorus to make predictions for global extinction patterns

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Climate Change and Seasonality Using
Nicrophorus to make predictions for global
extinction patterns
Tara Smiley
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Populations of Nicrophorus from Western WA will
have a narrower thermal tolerance than Eastern WA
populations and will therefore be more sensitive
to climate change.
HYPOTHESIS AND INTRODUCTION

• -Evolution of Scientific Theory
• -Experimental Approach and Predictions

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Why Mountain Passes are higher in the Tropics
Janzens Hypothesis
FORMATION OF A HYPOTHESIS
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Janzens Hypothesis Revisited Ghalambor,
Huey, Martin, Tewksbury and Wang 2006
TESTING A HYPOTHESIS
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Janzens Hypothesis RevisitedGhalambor, Huey,
Martin, Tewksbury and Wang 2006
TESTING A HYPOTHESIS
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Janzens Hypothesis in light of Climate Change
APPLYING A HYPOTHESIS

• Global temperature increase of 1.4-5.8 C
• within next century
• Seasonality Gradient Exists
• Thermal tolerance range of tropical species is
  narrower than that of high latitude species
• Tropical populations are more sensitive to
  temperature change than high latitude populations

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A Local Approach

• Temperate Western WA vs. Seasonal Eastern WA
• Burying Beetle, Nicrophorus
• found across
• the state

N. defodiens
N. nigrita
N. guttula
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Experimental Approach

• Beetle Collection
• Measure fitness under varying temperatures to
  determine thermal tolerance
• Take beetles outside of thermal tolerance and
  compare fitness
• Can beetles from the East survive longer?

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The walk towards the light design
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Implications for Global Extinction Patterns

• Are seasonal organisms better equipped to deal
  with climate change?
• Will populations living in stable climates face
  greater extinction pressure due to global
  warming?
• Is global biodiversity at risk?

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Special Thanks

• Advisors
• Josh Tewksbury
• Toby Bradshaw
• Ben Kerr
• Grads
• Kimberly Sheldon

Mary Gates Endowment for Students And my
fellow students and researchers!