CLASS COPY – DO NOT WRITE ON or KEEP!
Environmental Science DBQ - “Should We Save the Tropical Rainforests or the Coral Reefs?”
Directions: You are working for a panel of scientists that must convince the leaders of wealthy governments
around the world that our terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity is very important. However, these leaders
have decided to finiancially support only one type of biome or aquatic life zone. You have to convince them
why the Tropical Rainforest OR the Coral Reef is worth saving.
First, you must decide yourself which one is worth saving. Then you will write a report to the
government leaders explaining the importance of the tropical rainforest or coral reef, and how it is
interconnected to the health of our planet, organisms, and us. You should be clear on all the reasons that
the biome is worth saving. Good Luck.
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Your report must have a title and your name & period at the top of the page.
Your report must have a thesis statement.
Your report must be at least 3 paragraphs (1 paragraph = 4-6 sentences). You must have complete
sentences with proper spelling and grammar.
Your report should have a logical progression of ideas and should ENTHUSIASTICALLY CONVINCE
THE READER WHY THE BIOME IS WORTH SAVING!
IMPORTANT: In your report, YOU MUST USE & REFERENCE AT LEAST 4 of the provided documents.
Document A: Rainforest Food Web
Document B. Products from the Rainforest
Food/Drinks
Fruit (bananas, citrus)
Drinks (coffee, tea, cola)
Vegetables (peppers, okra)
Nuts (cashews, peanuts)
Oils (palm, coconut)
Flavorings (vanilla, sugar, spices)
Foods (beans, grains, fish)
Medical Treatments
arthritis
rheumatism
inflammation
diabetes
muscle tension
malaria
skin diseases
Woods
Teak
mahogany
rosewood
sandalwood
balsa
Tropical Oils Used In…
Cosmetics
Shampoo
Perfumes
Disinfectants
detergents
Paint
Varnish
Document C. Carbon Cycle in the Rainforest
Document D. Process of Photosynthesis
Document E. Facts about the Rainforest – Article from the Tropical Rain Forest Alliance
Tropical rainforests are integral to a healthy planet and its ability to support life. They
regulate earth's climate, are a deterrent against the greenhouse effect, contain edible food crops and
other resources and prevent impoverishment and famine. Regardless of their importance, deforestation
continues—a football field-sized area of rainforest is lost every second of every day.
Even though the tropical rainforests are in another part of the hemisphere, they play a major
role in our everyday lives here in the United States. Rainforests regulate rainfall on a global level
which in turn affects global climate. They are the single greatest terrestrial source of oxygen.
Rainforests also bring us food, herbs, pharmaceuticals, and many other items that are commonplace in
our daily life.
Facts: Did you know...
• As food crops, we use only 7,000 of about 75,000 known edible plants.
• 500,000 trees are cut every hour in tropical rainforests.
• We lose 20,000 to 100,000 species a year.
• An area the size of a football field is being destroyed every second!
• We owe the discovery of many food crops from the tropical rainforests: Lemons, limes, oranges, pineapples,
mangoes, avocados, guavas, papayas, passion fruits, bananas, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, palm oil, rubber,
annatto (natural red food coloring), cashews, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, hearts of palm, essential oils, coffee
beans and can you ever imagine living without... CHOCOLATE?!
Document F. Three Things You Should Know About Coral Reefs – Article by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Association
Coral reefs are some of the oldest and most diverse ecosystems on Earth.
Did you know that, per unit area, coral reefs support more species than any other marine environment? Reefs
also rival rainforests in the amount of biodiversity they support. Thousands of creatures rely on coral reefs for
their survival. Hidden beneath the ocean waters, reefs are also some of the oldest ecosystems on the planet,
reflecting thousands of years of history. Although individual coral polyps are tiny, they create the largest living
structures on earth—some reefs are visible from space!
Healthy coral reefs are valuable to you.
Did you know that approximately 500 million people worldwide depend upon reefs? In fact, 30 million are
virtually totally dependent upon reefs. Coral ecosystems are a source of food for millions; protect coastlines
from storms and erosion; provide habitat, spawning and nursery grounds for economically important fish
species; provide jobs and income to local economies from fishing, recreation, and tourism; are a source of new
medicines, and are hotspots of marine biodiversity. These values contribute approximately $29.8 billion to
world economies each year. Continued decline of reefs will have alarming consequences for people
worldwide.
Humanity's actions are threatening coral’s survival.
An estimated 20 percent of the world’s reefs are damaged beyond recovery and about half of the remaining
coral reefs are under risk of collapse. The top threats to coral reefs— climate change, unsustainable fishing,
and
land-based
pollution—are
all
due
to
human
activities.
These threats—combined with other threats like coral disease; tropical storms; tourism and recreation; vessel
damage; marine debris, and aquatic invasive species—compound upon each other, sometimes making
conservation efforts more difficult.
Document G. Coral Reef Community
Document H. Why Care about the Coral Reefs? – Article by the Coral Reef Alliance
Coral reefs benefit a healthy world by providing:
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Habitat: Home to more than 1 million diverse aquatic species, including thousands of fish species
Income: Billions of dollars and millions of jobs in more than 100 countries around the world
Food: For commercial fishing enterprises and for people living near coral reefs, especially on small
islands
Protection: A natural barrier protecting coastal cities, communities, and beaches
Medicine: Potential treatments for many of the world's most prevalent and dangerous illnesses and
diseases
Document I. Threatened & Endangered Animals in the Rainforest and the Coral Reef
Rainforest
Golden Lion Tamarind Monkey: one of the most endangered of all rainforest animals. It is nearly
extinct primarily because of its magnificent fur, which can bring up to $20,000 on the black market.
What few specimens are left are found in the coastal lowland rainforests of Brazil.
Jaguar: Found in Mexican, South and Central American rainforests, the jaguar is in Near
Threatened status due to hunting.
Poison Dart Frog: found in Central and South America, the colorful
Poison Dart Frogs, of which there are many species, range from Critically
Endangered to Least Concern Depending on Species. As their name implies, poison dart
frogs can release toxins. Three very toxic species of poison dart frogs from Colombia
and South America are utilized by Indians to poison the tips of blowgun darts.
Gorilla: found in West Central Africa rainforests primarily in Zaire, Rwanda, and in the Congo River Basin,
and where ever they are found, they are threatened. Loss of habitat, hunting for bushmeat and the Ebola
Virus are some of the threats the gorillas of Africa face.
Harpy Eagle: One of the largest and most powerful of the fifty species of eagles in the world,
the Harpy Eagle lives in the tropical lowland rainforests of Central and South America, from
southern Mexico southward to eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil and the northernmost parts of
Argentina. Endangered, the major threat to Harpy Eagles is loss of habitat from clear cutting,
destruction of nesting sites and hunting.
Coral Reef
Dugongs and manatees: were once plentiful in coral reef lagoons. Dugongs and manatees
have been traditionally hunted by native peoples for food for many centuries with minimal
apparent effects on their populations. Over the last two or three centuries however, far more
extensive hunting, habitat loss, entanglement in fish nets, and coastal pollution have
contributed to the rapid decimation of these animals.
Sea Turtles: Of the seven recognized specie, three are regular or occasional visitors to
coral reefs in some parts of the world. On both Indo-Pacific and Caribbean reefs, the
species most often seen resting on the reef proper is the Hawksbill turtle, which have been
heavily overexploited for their meat and shells, and are listed as "critically endangered".
The green sea turtle also frequents coral reefs of both the Greater Caribbean & Indo-Pacific
regions, and is considered endangered.
Grouper: a globally important group of 162 coral reef food fishes, are threatened
with extinction unless management or conservation measures are introduced.
Groupers are the basis of the multi-million dollar live reef fish market of the sea
food trade centered in Hong Kong, where consumers can pay up to US$50 per kg
for this delicacy. Groupers are also the most valuable commercial fishes in the
fresh fish markets of the tropics and sub-tropics.