This video follows biologist Liz Hadly in Yellowstone National Park as she discusses how ecosystems are threatened by warming temperatures.

Hadly has been studying biodiversity in Yellowstone National Park for 30 years. Although the park provides protected environments for animals, it is not immune from global threats like climate change. Accompanied by biologist Sean Carroll, Hadly demonstrates different ways in which climate change is impacting the park’s ecosystems. Bark beetles are surviving the winter in higher-elevation areas of the park, killing a large number of whitebark pine trees and disrupting the food web that includes squirrels and grizzly bears. Climate change is also causing ponds to dry up, reducing the pond habitat and decimating the local amphibian population.

The accompanying “Student Worksheet” incorporates concepts and information from the video.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.