Ecology

Written Assignment

Objective

• After researching SELECTED internet sources on keystone species, write a report that defines keystone species through examples and explains the economic and ecologic values they possess. Support your discussion with evidence from your research. What implications can you draw?

Definitions:

• keystone species – species that has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem

• biodiversity – variety of living things in an ecosystem

• ecologic value – how much something is worth to the environment

• economic value – how much money something is worth to the country

Written Assignment

• Construct a 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY• Paragraph #1 – Introductory paragraph– define what is a keystone species– start with a fact, question, quote, or anecdote– should have a transition word / sentence in the

middle– must have a thesis statement • tells specifically what you will be talking about

Written Assignment• Paragraphs #2-4 – Body – #2 give the specifics about one organism,

describing what makes it a keystone species- #3 describe the ecological value of this species- #4 describe the economic value of this species• who would gain / lose money if this species was lost?

• Paragraph #5 – Conclusion– summarize your paper– restate your thesis

Written Assignment #1

• You will have tomorrow and Thursday to work on this in class

• After class Thursday, you must work on your own

• WHETHER YOU ARE HERE OR NOT you must show me a rough draft of your essay on FRIDAY

• The final draft is due WEDNESDAY MAY 18TH

Grading1. Content – Is your paper scientifically

correct? – Does it meet all of the requirements?

2. Focus – Is your paper structured so that it flows well?

3. Grammar - Is it grammatically correct?4. Format - Is it 5 paragraph format?

- Is each paragraph structured correctly?

Keystone Species

• sea stars (star fish)• otters• jaguars• white-tailed deer• grizzly bears• elephants• howler monkeys• black bellied

salamanders

• gopher tortoises• wild bees• plateau pikas• pacific salmon• pumas• opossums• red cedar• red laver

Resources

• You MUST use:– one of the two articles found on

bglass.wikispaces.com/Keystone+species– one article from google scholar

• After using these two sources you can use any other RELIABLE sources of your choice . . . but you must list every source that you use– FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A ‘0’ FOR THE

ASSIGNMENT