Jollyville Plateau Salamander Ecology

Transcription

1 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy Lessn Plan fr Grades: 9-12 Length f Lessn: 1 hur 45 minutes Authred by: Stavana Strutz, Nathan Bendik, & Hayley Gillespie fr UT Envirnmental Science Institute Date created: 08/30/2016 Subject area/curse: Bilgy, Aquatic Science Materials: Cmputer & internet access. TEKS/SEs: Aquatic Science (2) Scientific prcesses. The student uses scientific methds during labratry and field investigatins. The student is expected t: (F) cllect data individually r cllabratively, make measurements with precisin and accuracy, recrd values using apprpriate units, and calculate statistically relevant quantities t describe data, including mean, median, and range; (H) rganize, analyze, evaluate, build mdels, make inferences, and predict trends frm data; (I) perfrm calculatins using dimensinal analysis, significant digits, and scientific ntatin; and (J) cmmunicate valid cnclusins using essential vcabulary and multiple mdes f expressin such as lab reprts, labeled drawings, graphic rganizers, jurnals, summaries, ral reprts, and technlgy-based reprts. (4) Science cncepts. Students knw that aquatic envirnments are the prduct f Earth systems interactins. The student is expected t: (C) cllect and evaluate glbal envirnmental data using technlgy such as maps, visualizatins, satellite data, Glbal Psitining System (GPS), Gegraphic Infrmatin System (GIS), weather ballns, buys, etc. (7) Science cncepts. The student knws the rigin and use f water in a watershed. The student is expected t: (C) identify water quantity and quality in a lcal watershed. (9) Science cncepts. The student knws the types and cmpnents f aquatic ecsystems. The student is expected t: (C) identify bilgical, chemical, gelgical, and physical cmpnents f an aquatic life zne as they relate t the rganisms in it Bilgy (2) Scientific prcesses. The student uses scientific methds and equipment during labratry and field investigatins. The student is expected t: (G) analyze, evaluate, make inferences, and predict trends frm data; and (11) Science cncepts. The student knws that bilgical systems wrk t achieve and maintain balance. The student is expected t: (B) investigate and analyze hw rganisms, ppulatins, and cmmunities respnd t external factrs; (12) Science cncepts. The student knws that interdependence and interactins ccur within an envirnmental 1

2 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy system. The student is expected t: (F) describe hw envirnmental change can impact ecsystem stability. Lessn bjective(s): Students will learn that animal ppulatins affected by envirnmental factrs such as pllutin. Students will utilize mathematical and graphing skills. Differentiatin strategies t meet diverse learner needs: The teacher shuld ask students whether they prefer t read r watch vides t learn abut cncepts; then have students learn in their preferred learning style. Hwever, the teacher may assign students certain methds t imprve their skills. Fr example, if a student prefers reading, teachers may have them watch a vide and take ntes t imprve their listening skills. ELL students and students with learning disabilities shuld have multiple frms f instructin including visual and written instructin sheets as well as a verbal instructin and demnstratin. ENGAGEMENT (15 minutes) Teacher will prject r psts a picture f salamanders t the bard (see engagement activity). Teacher pses statements t the entire class. Students shuld raise their hands as t whether they agree r disagree with the teacher s assertins. Afterward, the teacher will g ver the answers. EXPLORATION (45 minutes) Students will be given latitude and lngitude crdinates f lcatins f the Jllyville Plateau Salamander. They will use Ggle Earth r Ggle Maps t lk at the sites and describe the habitat. Students then make predictins abut the health f the different ppulatins at the different sites After visually inspecting the habitat, students will be given data n cnductivity and juvenile salamander cunts at each site. They will average the data, graph the data, and decide whether r nt their predictins abut habitat type and salamander ppulatin health were supprted by data. As students are wrking thrugh the explratin activity (see attached wrksheet), walk arund the rm and facilitate their learning. EXPLANATION (30 minutes) Divide the class int several grups. Each grup is respnsible fr answering ne f the fllwing questins related t the Explratin Activity. ELABORATION (15 minutes) Class cmes back tgether as a grup t discuss the brader implicatins f the analysis. Ask the class questins listed in the elabratin activity. Additinally, students can use statistical sftware, such as that fund in Micrsft Excel t run a regressin analysis n the effect f cnductivity n juvenile salamander ppulatin size EVALUATION (thrughut entire lessn) Students will cmplete the wrksheet attached t this lessn and participate in the engagement and elabratin activities SOURCES AND RESOURCES Dr. David Hillis Ht Science Cl Talks #101 Hw a Salamander Saved a City, IUCN Redlist, City f Austin Raw Data, data.austintexas.gv/envirnmental/jps-juvs-and-spc/95us-p2ms Chinese Giant Salamander, Texas Salamander, 2

3 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy TEACHER HANDOUT: Engagement Activity (15 minutes) Purpse: T gauge students knwledge abut salamander eclgy and bilgy and stimulate interest in the lessn. Materials: nne Safety Infrmatin: N/A Prcedure: First, shw students pictures f salamanders frm t fllwing websites: Chinese Giant Salamander: Texas Salamander: Teacher will read the fllwing statements t students and have them raise their hands if they agree/disagree r believe a statement t be true/false. Teacher ges ver the respnses at the end and assists students in determining the crrect answers. Statements: Salamanders are reptiles (false). Salamanders are amphibians (true). Salamanders are cld-blded (true). Salamanders live their entire lives in water (sme d). Salamanders live part f their lives in water and part n land (sme d). Salamanders breathe thrugh their skin (the aquatic/netenic species d). Explain that neteny is when adult animals retain characteristics f the juvenile state and that all amphibians begin their life cycle in water. Salamanders have lungs (true). Mst terrestrial nes d while aquatic/netenic nes have gills and smetimes lungs. Anther grup f salamanders lacks lungs and gills and breathes entirely thrugh its skin and specialized muth/thrat tissue Salamanders cannt regrw lst limbs (false). Salamanders can grw up t 5 feet (true, the Chinese Giant Salamander can). Salamanders are predatrs (true). 3

4 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy STUDENT HANDOUT: Explratin Activity (45 minutes) The Jllyville Plateau Salamander (Eurycea tnkawae) is an endangered salamander species fund near the city f Austin, Texas. Like ther amphibians, it has permeable skin that is used fr xygen exchange. This salamander and the grup f salamanders it belngs t are netenic meaning that they retain juvenile characteristics well int adulthd, such as entirely aquatic life cycle. This particular species is endangered. Part 1 Map the ppulatins f the Jllyville Plateau Salamander using Ggle Earth r Ggle Maps (turn n Earth mde). Use the fllwing latitude and lngitude crdinates and describe the habitat. Pay special attentin t hw much urbanizatin (rads, buildings, etc.) each site is surrunded by. Site Latitude Lngitude Habitat Descriptin Franklin Hill Marsh Spring Spicewd Tanglewd Tributary Ribelin ) D yu expect the habitat t affect the salamanders? 2) In what ways might urban develpment affect salamanders? 4

5 Part 2 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy The City f Austin mnitrs the status f the Jllyville Plateau Salamander by ding regular surveys f the ppulatins. Belw are data frm the City f Austin. Cnductivity measures in cncentratins in the water. Fr each f the sites listed, calculate the average cnductivity and juveniles fr ) Year Site Develpment Cnductivity (us/cm) Juveniles 2008 Tributary 6 Urban Tributary 6 Urban Tributary 6 Urban Tributary 6 Urban Tributary 6 Urban Tanglewd Urban Tanglewd Urban Tanglewd Urban Tanglewd Urban Tanglewd Urban Spicewd Urban Spicewd Urban Spicewd Urban Spicewd Urban Spicewd Urban Franklin Rural Franklin Rural Franklin Rural Franklin Rural Franklin Rural Ribelin Rural Ribelin Rural Ribelin Rural Ribelin Rural Ribelin Rural Hill Marsh Transitinal Hill Marsh Transitinal Hill Marsh Transitinal Average Cnductivity Average Juveniles 4) What d yu think cnductivity is an indicatr f? 5

6 5) Why is it imprtant t cunt juvenile salamanders? Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy 6) Create a bar graph f salamander cunts by develpment type. Remember t include a title, axis labels and units. 7) Graph the juvenile salamander ppulatin as it relates t cnductivity. Remember t include a title, axis labels, and axis units. 6

7 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy 8) Which develpment type has the lwest number f salamanders? 9) Which develpment type has the highest cnductivity? 10) What happens t salamander cunts as cnductivity increases? Why d yu think that is? 11) What d yu expect t happen t salamanders as suburban sprawl/urbanizatin increases? 7

8 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy TEACHER HANDOUT: Explratin Activity (45 minutes) The Jllyville Plateau Salamander (Eurycea tnkawae) is an endangered salamander species fund near the city f Austin, Texas. Like ther amphibians, it has permeable skin that is used fr xygen exchange. This salamander and the grup f salamanders it belngs t are netenic meaning that they retain juvenile characteristics well int adulthd, such as entirely aquatic life cycle. This particular species is endangered. Part 1 Map the ppulatins f the Jllyville Plateau Salamander using Ggle Earth r Ggle Maps (turn n Earth mde). Use the fllwing latitude and lngitude crdinates and describe the habitat. Pay special attentin t hw much urbanizatin each site is surrunded by (rads, buildings, etc.). Site Latitude Lngitude Habitat Descriptin Franklin Rural Hill Marsh Spring Transitinal Spicewd Urban Tanglewd Urban Tributary Urban Ribelin Rural 1) D yu expect the habitat t affect the salamanders? Why? Yes but any answer acceptable with justificatin. 2) In what ways might develpment affect salamanders? Develpment might hurt salamanders via increased pllutin and habitat lss. There are ther ptential crrect answers. 8

9 Sectin 2 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy The City f Austin mnitrs the status f the Jllyville Plateau Salamander by ding regular surveys f the ppulatins. Belw are data frm the City f Austin. Cnductivity measures in cncentratins in the water. Fr each f the sites listed, calculate the average cnductivity and juveniles fr ) Year Site Develpment Cnductivity (us/cm) Juveniles 2008 Tributary 6 Urban Tributary 6 Urban Tributary 6 Urban Tributary 6 Urban Tributary 6 Urban Tanglewd Urban Tanglewd Urban Tanglewd Urban Tanglewd Urban Tanglewd Urban Spicewd Urban Spicewd Urban Spicewd Urban Spicewd Urban Spicewd Urban Franklin Rural Franklin Rural Franklin Rural Franklin Rural Franklin Rural Ribelin Rural Ribelin Rural Ribelin Rural Ribelin Rural Ribelin Rural Hill Marsh Transitinal Hill Marsh Transitinal Hill Marsh Transitinal Average Cnductivity Average Juveniles ) What d yu think cnductivity is an indicatr f? Cnductivity is an indicatr f water quality. Higher cnductivity means mre ins in the wrld and mre pllutin. 9

10 5) Why is it imprtant t cunt juvenile salamanders? Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy Juvenile salamanders are an imprtant life stage because they indicate whether adult salamanders are reprducing. They are the next generatin. 6) Create a bar chart f salamander cunts by develpment type. Remember t include a title, axis labels and units. 7) Graph the juvenile salamander ppulatin as it relates t cnductivity. Remember t include a title, axis labels, and axis units. (Trend line ptinal) 10

11 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy 8) Which develpment type has the lwest number f salamanders? Urban 9) Which develpment type has the highest cnductivity? Urban 10) What happens t salamander cunts as cnductivity increases? Why d yu think that is? Salamander cunts decrease as cnductivity increases. Salamanders might be respnding prly t pllutin in the water that is either killing them r decreasing their reprductin. There are ther acceptable answers. 11) What d yu expect t happen t salamanders as suburban sprawl/urbanizatin increases? Salamander ppulatins will likely decline and ptentially g extinct in certain areas. 11

12 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy TEACHER HANDOUT: Explanatin Activity (30 minutes) Purpse: T braden students understanding f species interactin with their envirnment and with each ther. Materials: N/A Safety Infrmatin: N/A Prcedure: Divide the class int small teams, each team has 3-4 minutes t share their answer ne f the fllwing questins frm the elabratin activity: What des cnductivity measure? What d yu think cnductivity is an indicatr f? What are the three types f urban develpment in the data prvided? In what ways des develpment affect salamanders? What happens t salamander cunts as cnductivity increases? Why d yu think that is? Why is it imprtant t cunt juvenile salamanders? D yu expect the habitat t affect the salamanders? Why? 12

13 Jllyville Plateau Salamander Eclgy TEACHER HANDOUT: Elabratin Activity (15 minutes) Purpse: T braden students understanding f species interactin with their envirnment and with each ther. Materials: N/A Safety Infrmatin: N/A Prcedure: Class cmes tgether as a grup t discuss the brader implicatins f the analysis. Ask the class the fllwing questins: Are salamanders special in their ability t tell us infrmatin abut pllutin in the envirnment? What wuld happen t the salamander ppulatins if they were n lnger listed as an endangered species? What are sme f the psitive benefits f having salamanders listed as endangered? Hw wuld the ecsystem change if salamanders were n lnger a part f it? What ther species wuld be affected by salamander disappearance? Hw culd this analysis be made mre effective? What mathematical cmpnent is missing frm the lessn? 13