Content
Topic Overview
As we advance into the ‘The Anthropocene’, various new or previously un-recognized threats have become more apparent globally as well as in Asia. Therefore, this module focus on three key emerging challenges Asia has been facing due to changing global and regional context with examples of potential mitigation options. You will learn about trends of climate change in Asia, and its impact on key ecosystems and threatened flora and fauna along with examples of mitigations. Further, you will learn about overview of invasive species, its drivers and analyze the impact on key ecosystem and species particularly focusing in Asia with case studies. Rapid urbanization and infrastructure development is other key phenomena with ever increasing development in Asia, hence, this module also focuses on trends and analyze its impact on different scale of biodiversity using different case studies along with potential mitigation options.
Learning objectives
- Describe climate change trend, identify vulnerable geographic region and analyze climate change impact on key biodiversity hotspots, ecosystem, and threatened species in Asia with case studies.
- Identify invasive species, its drivers and discuss its impact on key hot spots, ecosystem, and threatened species in Asia with potential mitigation options.
- Identify trend of urbanization and linear infrastructure develop in Asia and its effect on key hotspots, ecosystems, and threatened species with case studies.
Required & Optional Readings
Required Readings
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Wang, G., Mang, S. L., Riehl, B., Huang, J., Wang, G., Xu, L., ... & Innes, J. (2019). Climate change impacts and forest adaptation in the Asia–Pacific region: from regional experts’ perspectives. Journal of Forestry Research, 30(1), 277-293.
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Seto, K. C., Güneralp, B., & Hutyra, L. R. (2012). Global forecasts of urban expansion to 2030 and direct impacts on biodiversity and carbon pools. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(40), 16083-16088.
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Carter, N., Killion, A., Easter, T., Brandt, J., & Ford, A. (2020). Road development in Asia: Assessing the range-wide risks to tigers. Science Advances, 6(18), eaaz9619.
Self-test Quiz (For certificate learning only)
After viewing lecture PPT presentation for this topic, take 10 minutes to take this self-test quiz. It is intended to serve as a quick check points of your learning progress about the factual content for this topic. Immediate feedback or answer key will be provided after your attempt. Click Self-test Quiz 2.4 to start.
Online Discussions (For certificate learning only)
Each week you will participant in the topic discussions of the week. The purpose of these discussions is to enable you to critically discuss and apply the core concepts you learned each week. Each online weekly topic discussion will include two parts: 1) your initial response to topic discussion questions posted by the instructor; and 2) your peer comment on other peer posts. Instructor will post one or two discussion questions related to the assigned module and topic every week. Response to these online discussion question and subsequent peer comment on these responses is mandatory. By doing this, you will enhance your knowledge through multiple perspectives posted by your peers. These questions will be focused on the most important aspect of the assigned module and topic and reflection on how you can apply these concept and tools from the assigned module and topic in your own context. For detailed requirements and grading rubric go to Online Discussions page.
To join the online topic discussions for this week go to Online Topic Discussion 2.4.
Graded Assignment for the Week (For certificate learning only)
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