Ecology Written Assignment

Objective After researching SELECTED internet sources on keystone species, write a report that defines keystone species through examples and explains the economic and ecologic values they possess. Support your discussion with evidence from your research. What implications can you draw?

Definitions: keystone species – species that has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem biodiversity – variety of living things in an ecosystem ecologic value – how much something is worth to the environment economic value – how much money something is worth to the country

Written Assignment Construct a 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY Paragraph #1 – Introductory paragraph define what is a keystone species start with a fact, question, quote, or anecdote should have a transition word / sentence in the middle must have a thesis statement tells specifically what you will be talking about

Written Assignment Paragraphs #2-4 – Body Paragraph #5 – Conclusion #2 give the specifics about one organism, describing what makes it a keystone species - #3 describe the ecological value of this species #4 describe the economic value of this species who would gain / lose money if this species was lost? Paragraph #5 – Conclusion summarize your paper restate your thesis

Written Assignment #1 You will have tomorrow and Thursday to work on this in class After class Thursday, you must work on your own WHETHER YOU ARE HERE OR NOT you must show me a rough draft of your essay on FRIDAY The final draft is due WEDNESDAY MAY 18TH

Grading Content – Is your paper scientifically correct? – Does it meet all of the requirements? Focus – Is your paper structured so that it flows well? Grammar - Is it grammatically correct? Format - Is it 5 paragraph format? - Is each paragraph structured correctly?

Keystone Species sea stars (star fish) otters jaguars white-tailed deer grizzly bears elephants howler monkeys black bellied salamanders gopher tortoises wild bees plateau pikas pacific salmon pumas opossums red cedar red laver

Resources You MUST use: one of the two articles found on bglass.wikispaces.com/Keystone+species one article from google scholar After using these two sources you can use any other RELIABLE sources of your choice . . . but you must list every source that you use FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A ‘0’ FOR THE ASSIGNMENT