Since temperature and precipitation can influence the growth and health of plants and animals, it’s easy to think climate change may affect agriculture, ranching and commercial aquaculture, industries intrinsic to Idaho’s economy. I’ve called up three U of I faculty members with expertise in these fields: Jodi Johnson-Maynard, department head for Soil and Water Systems; Ron Hardy, director of the Aquaculture Research Institute; and John Hall, professor in animal veterinary science. Read the script at uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Music by Steve Combs.

In Season 1 of the Vandal Theory, I'm investigating how climate change is affecting Idaho, since the local effects of climate change vary from place to place. First, I'm exploring how climate change affects Idaho’s natural landscapes, everything from the sagebrush steppe in the south to the forests of the north. I ended up talking with four of U of I’s faculty members, all of whom are experts on climate change in Idaho: John Abatzoglou (associate professor of geography), Tim Link (professor of hydrology), Penny Morgan (professor of fire and forest ecology) and Ryan Long (assistant professor of wildlife sciences). Read the script at uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Music by Steve Combs.