Created By: Amy Taylor Hazelwood Central High School To ActivityTo Teacher Page

Teacher Page §Grade Level: 10 §MAP Content Standards: l The learner will be able to describe the effects of a decrease in biodiversity. l The learner will be able to understand that human decisions regarding how resources are used changes the balance and diversity of ecosystems.

§Tips for Classroom Use: l Preview the activity before using it with your class. l Buttons are present on each page that will enable you to move forward and back within the activity. §Journaling: l This activity is intended to be used in conjunction with journaling. l The notebook icon will prompt the students when to journal in their notebooks.

Focus on the process of problem solving with your students…they need to understand not only the facts, but the reasoning behind them. Have them write their thoughts on paper and then discuss them as a class.

After decades of widespread human expansion, the 1925 Missouri deer population was estimated at 325. Thanks to conservation efforts, white-tailed deer are no longer a threatened species in Missouri. In many areas the deer are becoming a nuisance to humans when less than a century ago the tables were turned.

In this activity you will act as a field research assistant for the conservation department. Your job is to investigate the deer population and the affects of natural phenomena and human activity on it.

Background Research: You have researched the history of the Missouri deer population as shown. What can you determine from the above graph?

§The deer population has been steadily increasing, and even with a legal hunting season the population is pushing the land’s carrying capacity. §What are three questions you would like answered to explain this population trend? 1. ____________________________ 2. ____________________________ 3. ____________________________

You may have said... §Has there been any change in habitat? §Has there been any change in migration patterns? §Has there been a decrease in predator population? §Has there been any change in mating habits? §Has there been any change in birth/death rate?

Or maybe... §Is there an increase in food supply? §Have there been any changes in weather patterns? §Are there any changes in hunting regulations? Be sure your questions are specific about possible reasons for an increase in population.

Do you feel that this is an issue that needs to be addressed? How? Discuss your ideas with your class. Click here to return to title page