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Nutria Rat and the Wetlands 1. What is biodiversity? 2. What are the four ways that humans are decreasing biodiversity? 3. What is threatening the polar bear? 4. Why does deforestation threaten plants and animals? 5. Why does reducing biodiversity threaten us humans?
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Objectives By the end of today, all SWBAT… Describe the value of the wetlands Explain how the nutria rat is decreasing the biodiversity of LA’s wetlands
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Agenda Finish yesterday’s video Wetlands: what are they, why do we care? Invasive species Example: Nutria Rat Stations Exit Question
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What is a wetland?
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Jean Lafitte National Park Right in our backyard…
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Key Point #1: The Louisiana wetlands are important for a healthy LA—both the environment and the people
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Wetlands: in between terrestrial (land) and aquatic (water) ecosystems Aquatic Wetland Terrestrial
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Movie Question: What are three things that define a wetland
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Where are wetlands located? All along the coast of LA 40% of the U.S.’s wetlands are located in LA!!!!!
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There are MANY different types of wetlands… And they often look very different
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Forested Wetlands… Swamps
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Grassy Wetlands: Marshes
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Open water
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Marshland
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So what? Key Point #2: Wetlands are valuable for five reasons Home to fish and animals Clean pollutants out of the water Reduce flooding Slow down hurricanes Provide money and jobs to people
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Value of wetlands 1. Home to fish and animals 1/3 of birds and mammals live here Almost ALL amphibians live in wetlands
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Value of the wetlands 2. Cleans water of pollutants Plants suck up pollution like a vacuum
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Value of the wetlands 3. Reduces flooding Works like a sponge to soak up excess water Keeps other areas from flooding
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Value of the wetlands 4. Slows down hurricanes Works like a FENCE between water and land
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Value of the Wetlands 5. Provides MONEY and jobs to people In 2006, 26% of the nation’s oil Between 25-35% of the nation’s fish 950 million pounds of seafood every year $37 billion per year
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Invasive Species are a Huge Threat Key Point #3: Invasive species reduce biodiversity by… Preying upon (eating) other species Eating other species’ food Destroying other species’ habitat
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How do invasive species get there? Accidentally, by… Boat Plane Intentionally Pets Decorative plants
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The nutria rat is an invasive species that is dramatically harming the LA wetlands Remember… Invasive species: NON-NATIVE plants and animals that have a NEGATIVE influence on an area Nutria Rat
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Invasive species of Louisiana wetlands
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3.7 Classwork: Part A Answer the questions below from the video we are about to watch
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3.7 Classwork: Part B Directions: With a partner, answer the four reading questions from the paragraphs at your lab stations Paragraph 1 Question 1 Paragraph 2 Question 2 Etc.
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Part C. Food Webs What do nutria rats eat? How does this impact all other parts of the food web???
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Key Point Wrap-Up The Louisiana wetlands are important for a healthy LA—both the environment and the people Home to many plants and animals, cleans water, reduces flooding, slows hurricanes, money and jobs to people Invasive species reduce biodiversity Prey upon (eat) other species Eat other species’ food Destroy other species’ habitat The nutria rat is an invasive species that dramatically harms the LA wetlands Eats wetland plants
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Exit Questions 1. What are two ways that humans benefit from the wetlands? 2. Explain why nutria rats are an invasive species. 3. Describe in complete sentences how the nutria rat decreases biodiversity in the wetlands.
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