3.7
Name: _________________________________________________________ Block: _____________ Group: ____________
3.7 Notes: Wetlands and the Nutria Rat
1. The Louisiana wetlands are important for a healthy LA—both the environment
and the people

Wetlands:
Movie question: What are three things that define a wetland? (JASON 0:53-3:19)
5 values to the wetlands
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
2. The nutria rat is an invasive species that is dramatically harming the LA
wetlands

Invasive species:
How do invasive species harm an area?
Cause species extinction by…



How do invasive species get there in the first place?
Accidentally by…


Intentionally by…


3.7 Classwork: Nutria Rat
Part A. Video Questions (Jason video 26:30- 30:00)
3.7
Directions: Answer the questions below from the video we are about to watch
1. Where are nutria rats originally from? Why were they brought to the United States?
2. Why did the nutria rat population skyrocket?
3. What do the nutria rat do to the roots of plants? What is the negative result?
Part B. Reading Questions
Directions: With a partner, answer the four reading questions from the paragraphs at your lab stations.
Answer in complete sentences
1. Intro: Where do the nutria live and what do they eat?
2. How was the nutria rat introduced into Louisiana?
3. Why do nutria rats increase in population size so quickly?
4. What does the nutria rate eat and how does this damage the wetlands?
3.7 Classwork: Nutria Rat
Part C. Food Webs
How does the nutria rat
impact the wetlands
food web?
If the nutria rat increases…
1. What will happen to the amount of algae? Explain
your reasoning?
2. What will happen to the number of mosquitoes?
Explain your reasoning.
3. What will happen to number of water boatmen?
Explain your reasoning.
4. What will happen to number of fish? Explain your
reasoning.
Put it all together…
5. Describe in complete sentences the nutria rat’s
overall impact on the wetland food web?