Curious Climate schools
Curious Climate schools

Denisse Fierro Arcos

Affiliation
Oceans & Cryosphere, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
Research Areas
Climate change, ecosystems, Southern Ocean
Why I do what I do
Growing up in Ecuador, I spent a lot of time at the beach and watching nature documentaries, so I learned to love and respect nature and all the amazing critters occupying this planet. Sadly, climate change is threatening the survival of many species around the world, including humans. I felt that becoming a marine scientist and studying how we can better protect the oceans would be a great way to contribute towards the conservation of our planet.
Something interesting about me
I love sports of any kind, so every year I learn a new one. Some of the sports I have done so far include scuba and free diving (a great way to see sharks!), rock climbing, boxing, kayaking, crossfit, cycling, swimming, skating, rollerblading, but my favorite by far is running.

Questions answered by this expert

What will climate change do to the ocean and the creatures in the ocean?

View Answer

Will animals change their habitat to adapt to climate change over time?

View Answer

This is a really great question. The answer is that animals do not often change their habitat, but they are very likely to change where they live. 

A habitat is a place where an animal lives. A habitat has plenty of shelter and food for the animal, but it is also where the environment is really good for the animal, not too hot or not too cold. Different animals have different adaptations or characteristics that allow them to live in one area, and this is why we do not see the same animals everywhere. For example, camels can live in the dessert because they can tolerate high temperatures that other animals (including humans) cannot. 

Climate change can affect the environment in one area, which can affect the amount of food and shelter available to animal in that area. If the environment changes too much, animals may not have enough to eat, so they will need to move or migrate to other habitats, where there is good food, shelter and a nice environment. 

There is another way animals can survive climate change: evolution. You may have heard of evolution in class and about a scientist called Charles Darwin, who came up with this idea. If you have not yet, you can read this entry in the Encyclopedia Britannica. In short, evolution are changes in the genes of an animal that affect their body or behaviour. These changes help the animals to adapt to their new habitats, so they are more likely to survive and have babies, which means their genes continue to be passed along. 

climateFuturesUnviersity of TasmaniaTas Gov Sponosored
We acknowledge the Palawa/Pakana people, the Traditional Custodians of lutrawita/Tasmania. We recognise and respect their collective wisdom and knowledge about country and change.
(c) copyright 2024 University of Tasmania.
About this site
closearrow-circle-o-downchevron-downkeybarsellipsis-v