This Inquiry Brief examines the impact of climate change on terrestrial biomes, focusing on regions above 45 degrees latitude, such as the tundra and boreal forests. Students will explore how rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and thawing permafrost are driving biome migration. By analyzing real-world data, students identify affected biomes, describe their key characteristics, and discuss ecosystem services they provide. The brief also covers the "forest greening" trend in northern Alaska, where warmer temperatures and increased precipitation are transforming the landscape and influencing global carbon storage. Aligned with APES Unit 1, this Inquiry Brief challenges students to apply their prior knowledge of climate science, ecosystems, and environmental change to evaluate the effects of climate on biome distribution.
What is an Inquiry Brief?
Inquiry Briefs are compact, targeted case studies designed for assessment purposes, closely aligning with the AP Environmental Science (APES) curriculum. Unlike traditional case studies, which provide background information to teach students before asking questions, Inquiry Briefs present a limited amount of information and require students to apply their prior knowledge - similar to the format of the AP exam. Each of the nine Inquiry Briefs corresponds to a specific APES unit and includes AP-style free-response questions (FRQs), making them effective tools for end-of-unit assessments or end-of-year review. Each brief includes both a student edition and a teacher edition with complete answer keys.
Biome Migration Patterns - APES Unit 1 (Teacher & Student Edition)
ZIP file containing 3 PDF files
(1 Teacher Edition, 1 Student Edition, 1 Science Outside Terms and Conditions)
AP® Environmental Science Learning Objectives
1.2 Describe the global distribution and principal environmental aspects of terrestrial biomes
1.8 Explain how solar energy is acquired and transferred by living organisms
2.2 Describe ecosystem services
2.7 Describe the effect of ecological succession on ecosystems
9.3 Identify the greenhouse gases. Identify the sources and potency of the greenhouse gases
9.4 Identify the threats to human health and the environment posed by an increase in greenhouse gases9.5 Explain how changes in climate, both short- and long-term, impact ecosystems.
AP® Environmental Science Practices
Practice 1.A Describe environmental concepts and processes.
Practice 1.B Explain environmental concepts and processes.
Practice 1.C Explain environmental concepts, processes, or models in applied contexts.
Practice 2.A Describe characteristics of an environmental concept, process, or model represented visually.
Practice 2.B Explain relationships between different characteristics of environmental concepts, processes, or models represented visually: In theoretical contexts and in applied contexts
Practice 2.C Explain how environmental concepts and processes represented visually relate to broader environmental issues.
Practice 5.A Describe patterns or trends in data.
Practice 5.B Describe relationships among variables in data represented.
Practice 5.C Explain patterns and trends in data to draw conclusions.
Practice 5.D Interpret experimental data and results in relation to a given hypothesis.
Practice 5.E Explain what the data implies or illustrates about environmental issuesPractice 6.A Determine an approach or method aligned with the problem to be solved.
Practice 6.B Apply appropriate mathematical relationships to solve a problem, with work shown
Practice 6.C Calculate an accurate numeric answer with appropriate units
Practice 7.A Describe environmental problems.
Practice 7.B Describe potential responses or approaches to environmental problems.
Practice 7.C Describe disadvantages, advantages, or unintended consequences for potential solutions.
Practice 7.D Use data and evidence to support a potential solution.
Practice 7.E Make a claim that proposes a solution to an environmental problem in an applied context.
Practice 7.F Justify a proposed solution, by explaining potential advantages.