Missing Objective Students will look at changes in tooth size and shape (morphology) in the fossil record of herbivorous mammals in North America using data from a recent paleontological study. Students will infer factors which caused the observed evolutionary adaptions and link biological adaptation with global climate change and localized habitat change. Background Earth’s climate and biosphere are linked. As climate conditions change, species adapt to new environments. This lesson examines the spread of open areas and grasslands in North America as a result of changing climate, with a focus Duration: 90 Minutes.