Test #3 Classification RAFT Project
Role
Audience
Scientist/Explorer
(see “Exploring the
Tropical Hot Spots”
article)
Other scientists
looking to observe
as many species
as possible
Executive Director
of the Global Crop
Diversity Trust, from
“The Farmers’ Bank”
article
Farmers and other
people with
gardens
Bat living in the
artificial caves
described in the
“Cave Dwellers”
article
Killer Whale in the
“Puget Sound’s”
article
Format
Travel Guide
Persuasive
Speech
Self
Diary
Other killer whales
Excerpt from a
self-help book,
or a
commercial
transcript
A frog, toad, or
salamander (see the
“Amphibian Study”
article)
Biodiversity
Great White Shark
(see “Great White
Shark” article)
fishermen who
want to capture
fish using gill
nets, and
sometimes catch
great whites
Thank You
Letter
Persuasive
speech
Topic
How to measure
biodiversity and where to
find the most (and least)
biodiversity
Why it is important to keep
the seed bank well-stocked
Why it is important to save
me and what it is like to be
threatened by WNS, forcing
me to move from my natural
cave to a man-made one
Warnings of things to avoid
to stay alive and maintain
biodiversity, and why
should the whales survive
and maintain biodiversity
How you protect me from
parasitic infections and their
scary consequences (don’t
forget to define biodiversity
& other key words!)
What is being done to
protect me and why I should
be protected
Directions: Pick one of the “Roles” from the chart above. Then, compose your writing assignment about
the topic specified using the corresponding format and audience. You should begin by clearly introducing
your topic, along with all important vocabulary terms and concepts, then use evidence and examples from
the articles to support your claims. Conclude by summarizing and restating your opinion from the “Role’s”
perspective and strengthening your argument/statements to your audience. Minimum 225 words
“The Farmers’ Bank” http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1708817,00.html
“Amphibian Study” & disease http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2013/02/13/cu-boulder-amphibianstudy-shows-how-biodiversity-can-protect-against
“Great White Sharks: Endangered or Abundant” https://newsela.com/articles/shark-endangered/id/220/
“Exploring the Tropical Hot Spots of Biodiversity” https://newsela.com/articles/mammals-origin/id/2668/
“Puget Sound’s Whales Face Intertwined Obstacles” https://newsela.com/articles/orca-trouble/id/4518/
Cave Dwellers: from thedailytimes.com
Walland man involved in building artificial
bat cave
By Joel Davis | joeld@thedailytimes.com | Posted Sep 26, 2012
A Walland resident is involved with efforts by the Nature Conservancy in Tennessee to build an
artificial cave to help stem the white-nose syndrome (WNS) that is devastating bat populations in the U.S.
The organization began building the artificial cave in August near an existing bat hibernaculum in
Montgomery County.
Alex Wyss, director of conservation programs for the Tennessee Chapter of the Nature
Conservancy and a Walland resident, said the project came about from the need to do something to stem
the tide of disease, caused by the spread of the fungus Geomyces destructans.
“This project rose out a sudden shock to us in 2010 when we confirmed the first case of WNS in
Tennessee,” Wyss said. “... Logically, we knew it was just a matter of time before it came to the state, but
we were still surprised. We were in denial that something so terrible could come here.”
WNS is a disease that is responsible for the deaths of millions of bats in eastern North America. It is
named for a white fungus that forms on the faces of many infected bats.
Once WNS was confirmed, thought at the conservancy turned to what could be done to help. “We
said let’s take this as a lesson learned, and think about what it is we could do to be more better prepared
to give bats a fighting chance with white-nose syndrome five years from now.”
After consulting with many experts on bats, the conservancy settled on the strategy of creating a
controlled environment where bats could be treated and assisted. The new structure, the first man-made
hibernation cave for bats, is underground and will mimic the cold, damp environment of the nearby natural
cave. It will offer a safe haven for bats to hibernate during winter. It will also be a test site for WNS
treatments.
Several disinfectants can kill the fungus believed to cause WNS, but they can harm other cavedwelling species and local water supplies. The artificial cave will not house other animals, and it can be
disinfected when bats leave in summer, according to Wyss.
“If you could hold them during the winter when they are hibernating and treat the fungus that causes
white-nose syndrome then release them back into the wild after spring ... that might work.”
Costs $300,000
Construction on the artificial cave is expected to be complete by the end of the month to allow
bats to take up residence. It will cost about $300,000 and could be replicated elsewhere if proves
successful.
“We’ve created the habitat and, hopefully, the plan is they’ll find it and use it on their own,” Wyss said.
“We can also sterilize the cave environment so it carries a much lower fungal load.”
Bats are pest-controllers by eating many of the insects that damage crops. Studies have
estimated the value of bats to Tennessee agriculture at $313 million annually and the value to the nation’s
agriculture at $3.7 billion, according to the nature conservancy.
Wyss said he is very aware of the presence of Geomyces destructans in Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, which continues to enforce a moratorium on cave entries in hopes to preventing further
spread.
“We’re still just continuing to close off the caves and are monitoring what is going on,” Park spokeswoman
Molly Schroer said.
In March, biologists confirmed that both a tricolored and a little brown bat found in a Park cave
tested positive for the syndrome. Previously, no affected animals had been discovered despite finding
evidence of the fungus that causes the syndrome in a Park cave.
No known cure
While the actual cause of death due to WNS is unknown, the disease causes bats to become
restless during hibernation, moving about the cave and burning up fat reserves or losing body water they
need to survive the winter. There is no known cure for the disease.
The Great Smokies is home to 11 bat species and the largest hibernating population of the
endangered Indiana bat in Tennessee. At least six species that hibernate in Park caves and mines are
susceptible to WNS.
In 2009, all 16 Park caves and two mining complexes were closed to public entry to delay the
importation of the WNS pathogen on visitors’ clothing or gear. Park caves will continue to remain closed
to human access to minimize the chances of spreading the disease to other areas.
Smokies officials have also documented WNS in the White Oak Blowhole cave. The fungus is believed to
have originated in Europe where the native bats have apparently developed a resistance that their North
American counterparts lack.