Full colour poster- A well managed stream versus A stream in trouble ( PDF - 212kB)

This poster shows two different stream environments. One is a tropical stream with a wide riparian zone and healthy stream ecology; the other is a degraded, tropical stream that shows impacts from the removal of riparian vegetation, pollution and introduced exotic pest fish.
Teacher resources d.4 - Death by degradation
Student resource d.4 - Death by degradation

Teaching strategies

Background

The introduction of exotic pest fish may go unnoticed by the general public until an impact on recreational fishing is registered (e.g. can’t catch as many big fish, always catching a different type of fish). Exotic pest fish are generally successful in environmentally degraded areas (e.g. bare riparian zones, exotic plant infestations, eroded and silted waterways). This degradation is a gradual process.

Working scientifically

(I: identifying, looking for patterns and meanings, U: making links, C: creating diagrams)

Students work through a series of activities based around Bloom’s taxonomy.

Knowledge: Read the script on the poster and locate the elements in the stream illustrations. Annotate the black and white copy of the poster with arrows and summarised versions of the poster text.
Comprehension: Use a mind map to show the differences in flora and fauna between the two environments (well-managed, degraded).
Application: Make a flip chart showing the degradation process of a stream (from pristine to degraded and infested with exotic fish).
Analysis: List five similarities and five differences between the two environments.
Synthesis: Predict what would happen to the degraded stream if left unchecked for the next 50 years.
Evaluation: Write five do’s and five don'ts about how a tropical stream should be managed to promote its natural ecology.

To review the activity, students complete Student resource d.4 - Death by degradation by matching the cause/feature to its effect.

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Student activity d.4 Developmental

Death by degradation

Outcomes

Focus

Materials

Teaching strategies

Background

Working scientifically

To display and print this file you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download free of charge from: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html

Student activity d.4
Developmental