Task: Endangered Ecosystems
PART 1 (60 Minutes)
Student Directions:
Your Task:
Steps you will be following:
You’ve discovered a previously
unknown species of freshwater
mussels in a local river that is due to
be dammed in the coming months.
Use the information from the articles
and videos to answer three research
questions and to write your essay,
explaining the danger to the overall
river ecosystem from the potential
impact of the dam on this new
mussel.
In order to plan and compose your essay, you will do all
of the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Read
Watch
Answer all three questions about the sources.
Plan and write your essay.
Directions for beginning:
You will now watch the videos and read the articles, taking notes with the template provided.
You will want to refer to your notes when composing your essay. You may also refer to any of the
resources as often as you like.
Source Information:
Source #1: Bold Moves Needed to Save North America’s Freshwater Mussels
http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/2014/07/29/bold-moves-needed-to-save-north-americasfreshwater-mussels/
Source #2: The Secret Lives of Mussels: America’s Most Endangered Species!
http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/the-secret-lives-of-mussels-americasmost-endangered-species/
Source #3: Threats to Freshwater Mussels and the Consequences for Ecosystems - Science Nation
(2:26)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBOArELXkqA
Source #4: Freshwater Mussels (4:31)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URHTrAAkpr0
Task: Endangered Ecosystems
Questions
1. Describe the role a freshwater mussel plays in a river ecosystem. Use information from both
the articles and videos in your answer. Be sure to name your sources.
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Task: Endangered Ecosystems
2. Which of the sources was most helpful to you in understanding the role of freshwater mussels
in river ecosystems? Elaborate with reasons and examples.
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Task: Endangered Ecosystems
3. Defend this statement using information from two of the sources. Be sure to name your
sources.
“Even the smallest part of an ecosystem is important to the overall
balance of the ecosystem.”
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