1. Ecology
Written Assignment

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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

9. 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