Smilodon and Rising Sea Levels

The video discusses the impact of climate change on vulnerable areas, focusing on Tangier Island, which faces severe challenges due to rising sea levels. It explores potential solutions, including raising the island or relocating its residents, both of which are costly. The video also highlights a study on Smilodon, revealing social behavior in this extinct predator through fossil evidence. The episode concludes with a call for support for SciShow.

Which of the following areas is highlighted as being particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels?

• Mountainous regions

• Urban centers

• Desert areas

• Tangier Island

What is the current elevation of Tangier Island's habitable land?

• Ten meters above sea level

• Five meters above sea level

• Less than one meter above high tide

• Two meters above sea level

What is one proposed solution to save Tangier Island from rising sea levels?

• Planting more trees

• Building a dam

• Raising the island with sand

• Constructing a seawall

How much could it cost to relocate the residents of Tangier Island?

• 300 to 400 million dollars

• 200 to 300 million dollars

• 100 to 200 million dollars

• 50 to 100 million dollars

Approximately how many people worldwide live on land less than a meter above sea level?

• 500 million

• 50 million

• 100 million

• 230 million

What is the main focus of the study on Smilodon?

• Its hunting techniques

• Its extinction causes

• Its social behavior

• Its habitat range

What condition was discovered in the Smilodon pelvis from La Brea Tar Pits?

• Arthritis

• Bone cancer

• Fracture

• Hip dysplasia

What does the presence of hip dysplasia in Smilodon suggest about its behavior?

• It exhibited social behavior

• It relied on scavenging

• It was a solitary animal

• It was a migratory species

How did researchers determine the social nature of Smilodon?

• By studying its hunting patterns

• By examining fossilized bones

• By analyzing its teeth

• By comparing it to modern cats

What does the study of Smilodon reveal about ancient predators?

• They were all solitary

• They had no social structures

• They could exhibit social care

• They were primarily scavengers