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)