Higher Order Thinking on Climate Change and Plant Bioproductivity

Summary: Green house gases leading to global warming are considered the main cause of climate change. Temperature-related factors such as light, heat, and moisture (humidity or drought) pose direct or indirect effect on photosynthesis (plant bio-productivity). It is estimated that the current emission scenario is likely to increase the average temperature by 2-3 0C within the next 50 years. How this climate change may affect bio-productivity was debated in my science class after we watched Al Gore’s Oscar-nominated documentary "An Inconvenient Truth". Bio-productivity has a trail from photosynthesis therefore, a wide range factors that might influence the rate of photosynthesis with reference to environment (climate change) were debated at length. The students had the opportunity to promote higher order thinking skill (inquiry). They were assigned independent task to construct bio-productivity models for the next 50 years scenario change. This activity will allow students think and plan scientific adventures on topics of global interest.

• What would be the degree of change in responses? ( i.e. how drastically bio-productivity will increase or decrease)?
• To what extent they will affect the growing demands of world increasing population?
• How can they be managed administratively through planning (policy wise), and intellectually through research and development?
• What alternative measures and options will drive countries to combat the challenges posed by the climate change?

• Review Package of Technology: The environment change may not be compatible to the now a days available farm input technology. If the same inputs based technology remain in voug, there are chances that may lead to higher economic injury. In other words, cost inefficient farming will not only discourage farm business, it will have environmental impact as well. For instance, an in-appropriate choice of herbicide may be influenced by the environmental change to a greater extent. It may not only be reducing the crop yields, but may cause toxicity to the sensitive crops at distance via wind volatilization, water run off. Similarly, herbicides residues in soil, water and air may suppress the health of crops in rotation. To overcome the negative impact of the inappropriate farm input technology research; training and information system will require review and new solutions in term of resource and intellect.

• Alter Plant Architecture: Environment changes directly affect the performance of agri-chemicals particularly the foliage-applied pesticides (spraying). Following new breeding protocol and manuevering genetic engineering tools, the plant architecture can be articulated. How far such physical structural or physiological modifications can withstand and be beneficial under climate driven change in future? The change in plant leaf growth such as; presence or absence of leaf hairs, leaf thickening due to variable cuticle development, effect degree of penetration or retention of chemicals in plants through leaves. Translocation of theses within the plant is of-course, influenced by conditions that affect plant growth and development such as ratio of soil moisture and temperature may affect soil-applied or soil-incorporated chemicals in a variety of ways. Other climate factors such as; light, temperature, moisture/precipitation, relative humidity, wind, soil solution, soil pH, soil texture, and water quality are very pronounced in literature. The direct effect of light is on the regulation of stomata opening that influence the increase or decrease in the uptake through plant foliage. Genetic modification in the construction of cell membrane if alter permeability of minerals (Osmo-regulation), how far would it benefit plant bio-productivity under climate change scenario. Contents of absecic acid (ABA), a plant growth hormone promote the ability of plants to resist heat or drought stress. How far, genetically induced ABA efficient plants would fit in new climate?

• Evolutionary Concerns: Incremental increase in green house gases particularly the CO2 emission may induce enhanced plant dominance in several ways three of such possibilities are:

1. Some plants may avail opportunity to increase CO2 fixation by full capacity loading the Calvin Cycle. As such, allowing some species gain competitiveness over others diminishing the least
   
   Competitors. Such growth vigour coupled with enhanced reproductive potentials allows species dominate over the others. That may eventually lead to high plant population
   
   (Density/m2) in a specific ecosystem. It is quite possible that the increased pollen allergy posed by ragweed is likely the aftermath of the climate change.
   
   
2. Like C-4 plants, some plant species may evolve alternate biochemical pathway that stimulate CO2 fixation more efficiently. Unfortunately if these species are weed, they will become tough
   
   to be controlled by the existing herbicide brands and their concentration. This means we are
   
   anticipating a higher product price for higher concentration use and at the same time price for
   
   adding risk to the environment. This will eventually increase environmental cost in term of
   
   researching combat strategies including the intellectual cost.
   
   
3. Plant vigour induced by climate change may also induce physical resistance against natural

1. Stern, N. (2004). Stern Review: The Economics of climate change. Executive Summary. Retrieved on March 27, 07 from