Introducing KNOVA — A free reading app with curriculum-aligned passages on History & Science for Grades 3-8Learn More →

Climate Change and Biodiversity — Reading Comprehension

No ratings yet

Premium Resource

Grades

Rate this resource

Send Feedback / Report an Issue

About This Reader

This engaging science reading passage for Grades 6-8 explains how rising temperatures impact biodiversity around the world. Students will learn about key concepts such as ecosystems, species adaptation, extinction, and food webs, with scientific vocabulary clearly defined and highlighted. The passage discusses real-world examples, like polar bears in the Arctic and coral reefs, to help students connect science to everyday life. It aligns with NGSS standards and includes a glossary, comprehension quiz, and writing activities to promote deeper understanding. The passage is available in both English and Spanish and includes audio integration to support diverse learners. This resource is ideal for classroom use, homework, or as a supplemental learning tool focusing on climate change and its effects on nature.

CONTENT PREVIEW

Biodiversity is the variety of living things found in a particular area or on the whole planet. It includes all plants, animals, fungi, and tiny organisms like bacteria. Ecosystems are communities where these living things interact with each other and their environment, such as forests, oceans, or grasslands.

When temperatures rise on Earth, it can cause big changes to biodiversity. Higher temperatures can affect how animals and plants live, grow, and survive. Some species may be able to adapt, but others may not survive the changes. This can lead to a decrease in species diversity, which means fewer types of living things in an area.

One reason rising temperatures are dangerous for biodiversity is because they can disrupt food webs. A food web shows how different animals and plants are connected by what they eat. If one species disappears because it can't survive the heat, other animals that depend on it for food may also suffer. For example, if rising temperatures cause certain plants to die, the animals that eat those plants may also struggle to find food.

Rising temperatures also affect where species can live. Some animals, like polar bears, need cold environments to survive. As the Arctic warms, sea ice melts, and polar bears have less space to hunt and live. In the ocean, coral reefs are harmed by warmer water, causing a process called coral bleaching. This means corals lose their color and can die, which affects many other species that depend on reefs.

When species cannot adapt quickly enough to changing temperatures, they may face extinction. Extinction is when there are no more individuals of a species left alive. Losing one species can have a chain reaction, leading to problems for entire ecosystems.

However, some species are able to adapt. For example, certain birds may change their migration patterns to find cooler places, or plants may flower earlier in the year. Scientists study these changes to understand how life on Earth is responding to rising temperatures and to find ways to protect biodiversity.

Interesting Fact: Some scientists believe that protecting biodiversity can actually help slow down climate change, because healthy ecosystems like forests absorb more carbon dioxide from the air.

What is biodiversity?

Variety of living thingsAmount of sunlightNumber of oceansType of soil

What happens to coral reefs with warm water?

Coral bleachingThey grow fasterThey get colderMore fish arrive

What is extinction?

No more of a speciesA new species appearsA plant grows fasterAnimals adapt quickly

How do rising temperatures affect polar bears?

Less space to huntMore ice formsThey eat more plantsThey swim less

If a plant dies from heat, what may happen?

Animals lose foodAnimals grow biggerCorals bleachEcosystems freeze

Why do some birds change migration patterns?

Find cooler placesLay more eggsGrow new feathersEscape predators