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Standard #: SC.912.L.17.8
This document was generated on CPALMS - www.cpalms.org
Recognize the consequences of the losses of biodiversity due to catastrophic events, climate
changes, human activity, and the introduction of invasive, non-native species.
Subject Area: Science
Grade: 912
Body of Knowledge: Life Science
Standard: Interdependence A. The distribution and abundance of organisms is determined by the interactions between
organisms, and between organisms and the non-living environment.
B. Energy and nutrients move within and between biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems
via physical, chemical and biological processes.
C. Human activities and natural events can have profound effects on populations, biodiversity
and ecosystem processes.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 3: Strategic Thinking & Complex Reasoning - More
Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Related Courses
Course Number
2001341:
2000800:
Course Title
(Specifically in versions: 2016 and beyond (current))
Biology 1 Pre-International Baccalaureate (Specifically in
versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 and beyond (current))
2000315:
2001330:
2002445:
7920040:
2000310:
2000320:
2000330:
2000430:
2000370:
2000380:
2001340:
2000440:
2002440:
2002450:
2000390:
2002500:
2002510:
2000410:
7920015:
Related Access Points
Biology 1 for Credit Recovery (Specifically in versions: 2014 2015, 2015 and beyond (current))
Meteorology Honors (Specifically in versions: 2016 and beyond
(current))
Integrated Science 3 for Credit Recovery (Specifically in
versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 and beyond (current))
Fundamental Integrated Science 3 (Specifically in versions:
2013 - 2015, 2015 - 2017 (course terminated))
Biology 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 and
beyond (current))
Biology 1 Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015
and beyond (current))
Biology 2 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 and
beyond (current))
Biology Technology (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015,
2015 and beyond (current))
Botany (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018
(course terminated))
Ecology (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 and
beyond (current))
Environmental Science (Specifically in versions: 2015 and
beyond (current))
Genetics (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 and
beyond (current))
Integrated Science 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015,
2015 and beyond (current))
Integrated Science 3 Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 2015, 2015 and beyond (current))
Limnology (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018
(course terminated))
Marine Science 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015
and beyond (current))
Marine Science 1 Honors (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015,
2015 and beyond (current))
Zoology (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 and
beyond (current))
Access Biology 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015
and beyond (current))
Independent
Access Point Number
SC.912.L.17.In.4
Access Point Title
Recognize possible changes in an ecosystem (biodiversity) that
can result from natural catastrophic events, changes in climate,
and human activity.
Supported
Access Point Number
SC.912.L.17.Su.4
Access Point Title
Recognize changes in living things (biodiversity) that can result
from natural catastrophic events and human activity.
Participatory
Access Point Number
SC.912.L.17.Pa.4
Access Point Title
Recognize actions that are harmful to living things.
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Text Resource
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gathered in the Caribbean (specifically Abaco Island). The
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Cannibalistic Mantis Invades This informational text is intended to support reading in the
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Lesson Plan
Name
Bad News for Starfish
Be Alert - I Am Invasive!
Bee Faithful!
Description
In this lesson plan, students will analyze an
informational text intended to support reading in the content
area. The National Science Foundation article discusses
research on the effects of the Sea Star Associated Densovirus, a
virus devastating sea star populations. The article further
explains the implication of the virus for the tidal ecosystems of
the Pacific West Coast. The lesson plan includes a note-taking
guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys,
and a writing rubric.
Through schoolyard exploration, class discussion, and group
projects, students will investigate common invasive species and
their impact to Florida ecosystems. Students will recognize the
impact various invasive species have on biodiversity and the
consequences of the subsequent loss of biodiversity.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that
addresses a study that confirms the impact of removing just one
bumblebee species from an ecosystem. The text describes how
removing just one bumblebee species from an ecosystem causes
less effective pollination and lower seed production.
Bumblebees, as most bees do, stick with one species of flower
until it's finished blooming. Scientists have found that when one
bee species is removed it causes the remaining bee species to
"cheat" on their original flower species. This causes a decrease
in pollination and in seed production. This lesson is designed to
support reading in the content area. The lesson plan includes a
note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt,
answer keys and a writing rubric.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that
addresses a recent listing of yellow-faced bees on the
endangered list. This is the first time any type of bee has ever
been listed as endangered. The text describes how the yellowBees Endangered for First
faced bee population in Hawaii has been decimated by invasive
Time
species, habitat loss, and climate change. The text also describes
an innovative approach by researchers to help bring these bees
back from the verge of extinction. This lesson plan includes a
note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt,
answer keys, and a writing rubric.
Cleaning Up Your Act Model Eliciting Activity (MEA)
provides students with a real world engineering problem in
which they must work as a team to design a procedure to select
the best material for cleaning up an oil spill. The main focus of
Cleaning Up Your Act
this MEA is to recognize the consequences of a catastrophic
event, and understand the environmental and economical impact
based on data analysis. Students will conduct individual and
team investigations in order to arrive at a scientifically sound
solution to the problem.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational
text intended to support reading in the content area. The article
explains how Caribbean bat species are uniquely suited
for studying the consequences of extinction. By reading this
ComBATing Extinction
article, students will get a better understanding of geographic
isolation and speciation, which are major themes when
discussing the theory of evolution. In addition, students will
gain an understanding of the devastating effects human impact
can have on populations of species.
The goal of this lesson plan is for students to be able to conduct
mini-experiments that demonstrate what ocean acidification is
Coral Reefs in Acid - What is and how it affects marine organisms. Students will perform
Ocean Acidification?
mini-experiments and observe diagrams to help generate a
definition of what ocean acidification is, why it is occurring,
and how humans can reduce their impact.
In this lesson, students create a food web using information
about a group of non-existent species. They will use the food
web to create food chains and a population pyramid that will
Disentangling Food Webs
show the flow of energy through the food web. Finally, they
will explore how changing the population size of one species
affects other species, often with unpredicted results.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text
Flexing Their Mussels
examining scientists' studies of freshwater mussels in an attempt
to develop methods for saving threatened species. Students will
learn of the researchers' hope to be able to use other species that
cohabitate local ecosystems to restore the threatened species.
The lesson plan includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent
questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric.
Numerous options to extend the lesson are also included.
Students will learn about the Florida Panther, threats to it's
survival and the role of wildlife corridors as an attempt to
Florida Panthers and Wildlife reduce roadway fatalities. Students will participate in a game
Corridors
simulating panther crossings, learn about panthers from a guest
speaker or teacher, and participate in a mock town hall meeting
evaluating the construction of wildlife corridors.
Using short videos, articles and a scavenger hunt, students will
Genetically Modified Foods learn the process of genetically modifying crops and understand
the benefits and drawbacks of genetically modified foods.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that
explains how a smaller species of organisms are filling a niche
of larger organisms that have been reduced due to overfishing
and disease. These smaller organisms have been shown to
reduce algal communities that can lead to the destruction of
Helpful Herbivores
crucial coral reefs. This discovery may have large, beneficial
impacts on endangered coral communities around the world.
This lesson is designed to support reading in the content area.
The lesson plan includes use of a seed discussion organizer, a
vocabulary handout, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt,
sample answer keys, and a writing rubric.
In this lesson, students will analyze an article that discusses the
problem of declining honey bee populations in the United States
and lists the possible factors involved. The text then describes
the study on African honey bees to determine if there are
genetic or physiological causes in their positive response to the
Helping the Honey Bee!
Varroa parasite. Researchers are hoping the data they gather
will help them improve breeding programs or management
practices in U.S. bee populations. This lesson plan is designed
to support reading in the content area. The lesson plan includes
a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt,
answer keys, and a writing rubric.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text
selected to support reading in the content area. The article
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Humans: The Leading Cause humans, focusing on scientific data gathered in the Caribbean
of Extinction
(specifically Abaco Island). It explains how humans impact the
populations of species in ecosystems and why it is important for
people to understand these interactions. The lesson plan
includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing
Invasive Lionfish Histogram
Invasive or Not?
Invasive Species
prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. Numerous options to
extend the lesson are also included.
In this lesson, students will explore longitudinal data of the
invasive lionfish and the usefulness of histograms to help
visualize the changes in lionfish age groups over time. Students
will base their information on random samples conducted each
year for 5 years.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that
discusses new evidence regarding the status of the Arctic
ground squirrel. The species was previously thought to be an
invasive species on Chirikof Island off the coast of Alaska, but
new evidence calls this belief into question. The lesson plan
includes a vocabulary note-taking guide, text-dependent
questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric.
This resource provides a lesson plan, a student assignment, and
a power point presentation on invasive species with examples.
Students will be introduced to invasive species in the beginning
of the lesson via YouTube video and guiding questions. The
students will use digital and print media to explore (identify,
describe and predict) the loss of biodiversity in several
ecosystems due to the introduction of invasive exotic species.
The teacher/students will continue to identify and describe
invasive species in a second YouTube video and a graphic
Invasive Species - Air Potato
organizer. The teacher will supervise students in small groups
Round Up
during this phase of the lesson.
The final product for students will be to complete a poster
advertising a future "Air Potato Round Up" event sponsored by
the local US Army Corp of Engineers.
Students will be guided by a rubric and have supplemental
resources to access information for the poster project.
This is lesson introduces real-world examples of the
Let's Pollinate Biodiversity
consequences of the losses of biodiversity through a TED talk,
detailed discussion, and group work.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational
text intended to support reading in the content area. The text
concerns lionfish, an invasive species in the Atlantic, and the
Lionfish: Invasive Predators! environmental and economic damage the species threatens. The
lesson plan includes text-dependent questions, a writing prompt,
answer keys, and a writing rubric. Ideas for extending the lesson
are also included.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational
text intended to support reading in the content area. The
article discusses the research and efforts by scientists to save the
slow loris from extinction. It discusses the complexity of
Looking for the Loris
conservation today and details how there are many different
layers that need to be addressed on this issue. The lesson plan
includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing
prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational
text intended to support reading in the content area. The article
showcases recent research into the declining Arctic sea ice and
Loss of Sea Ice Leaves Polar
its effect on polar bear populations. The lesson plan includes a
Bears in the Cold
note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt,
answer keys, and a writing rubric. Numerous options to extend
the lesson are also included.
Purpose: To compare the species diversity of an area with high
human impact vs. less human impact.
Students will complete an investigation which will allow them
to use the Simpson's diversity index formula to evaluate and
compare biodiversity around their school campus. Students will
draw conclusions based on their data set.
Measuring Biodiversity
Methods of Protecting Coral
Reefs
This activity can has many applicable extensions based on
student needs and interests. It also can be easily modified to fit
certain time constraints, or physical limitations on varying
school campuses.
Resource includes lab sheet which provides instructions for
students to complete the investigation, worked example of the
Simpson's Index formula, space for students to record their
findings at the various investigation sites, as well as apply their
data to the formula. Students will also draw conclusions based
on their data set.
This lesson is designed to support reading in the content area.
Students will read a short but complex article that describes the
expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National
Monument (a type of marine protected area) and the benefits of
MPAs. The article identifies threats to coral reefs and how
creating an MPA can help the coral reefs within this protected
area and reefs in adjoining areas as well. The text provides some
background information on how similar programs have helped
other protected reefs near the Philippines, and both local and
global threats to coral reef ecosystems are referenced. The
Population Dynamics
Preserving Our Marine
Ecosystems
Quadrat Quest: Quantifying
Biodiversity of Plant
Communities
Sampling Lionfish
Save Our Dunes
lesson plan includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent
questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric.
This 7E lesson plan is broken down into 3 lessons used to teach
high school students in grades 9-12 about the characteristics
used to describe populations. There are inquiry based and
project based inquiry activities incorporated within the lesson.
Students will also learn the difference between exponential and
logistic growth by doing hands -on activities. A Power Point is
used to guide the activities, and learning.
The focus of this MEA is oil spills and their effect on the
environment. In this activity, students from a fictitious class are
studying about the effects of an oil spill on marine ecosystems
and have performed an experiment in which they were asked to
try to rid a teaspoon of corn oil from a baking pan filled with
two liters of water as thoroughly as possible in a limited
timeframe and with limited resources. By examining, analyzing,
and evaluating experimental data related to resource usage,
disposal, and labor costs, students must face the tradeoffs that
are involved in trying to preserve an ecosystem when time,
money, and resources are limited.
In this lesson, students use different metrics to quantify plant
biodiversity at locations on their school grounds. After
calculating these metrics, which require using mathematical
formulas and graphing data, students will hypothesize about
their observed trends in biodiversity. Finally, students will apply
these methods to an online data set to assess the diversity of
plant communities around the world, compare the diversity
measures of different locations, and create hypotheses that
explain observed patterns of biodiversity.
In this lesson, students will develop a sampling method to make
inferences about the invasive lionfish in the Atlantic Ocean.
Students will carry out their investigation, create histograms,
and calculate quantitative data like standard deviation to help
make conjectures about the lionfish. Students will then analyze
their sampling methodology by repeating the procedure with the
population data. This investigation allows students the
opportunity not only to simulate and improve their own
methodologies but provides a current and real-life scientific
issue to be examined.
Save Our Dunes is a literature-based research project suitable
for 9-12 marine science or environmental science students. The
lesson requires approximately 160 min. as well as computers/
internet access/ a printer. Students are guided through a series of
brainstorming activities about the types of natural events and
human activities that could affect dune ecosystems.
Students discuss the importance of dunes and what might
happen if some dune organisms disappeared. Students then
research background texts and use the research to create and
defend a unique dune management plan.
In this lesson students will examine how changes in an
ecosystem result from environmental factors specifically
Sea Turtle Sex and Climate
demonstrating the consequences of climate change on sea
Change
turtles. The lesson is in four parts: 1) a fact finding/research
component; 2) a group discussion and student presentation; 3) a
multi-media component; and 4) a laboratory activity.
In this lesson, students will read an article from the National
Science Foundation that discusses how a drought affected the
savannas of southern Kenya during 2009. It further addresses
how baboons are affected later in life based on when they are
The Importance of a Baboon's born and the social status they are born into. Based on the
Birthday
research on baboons, the implications on human health are also
discussed in the latter portion of the article. This lesson is
designed to support reading in the content area. The lesson plan
includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing
prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text
intended to support reading in the content area. The article
describes the effects the Panama Canal expansion may have on
the number of invasive species introduced to the East Coast and
Transport of Invasive Species Gulf Coast of the United States. The article explains how ballast
water and wet surface areas are the two ways the invasive
species can travel from port to port. The lesson plan includes a
note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt,
answer keys, and a writing rubric.
In this lesson, students will read an informational text that
discusses the spread of White Nose Syndrome in North
American bats and how bat colonies are being affected in both
Will We See More White
size and number. The article also provides a comparison
Nose Syndrome in Bats?
between European and North American bat colonies suffering
with this disease. This lesson is designed to support reading in
the content area. The lesson plan includes a note-taking guide,
text-dependent questions, and answer keys.
In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that
addresses the consequences of climate change on living
organisms in snow ecosystems, particularly those who live in
Winter Ecologists Explore
the subnivium beneath the snow's surface. The text describes a
Effects of Climate Change
new field of researchers called winter ecologists and their
findings that show how climate change is causing lighter snows
in some areas, diminishing the amount of insulation in the
Wiping Out Invasive
Predators in New Zealand
subnivium that many living organisms need to survive the
winter. This lesson is designed to support reading in the content
area. The lesson plan includes a note-taking guide, textdependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a
writing rubric.
In this lesson, students will read an article from National
Geographic that discusses the plan of the
New Zealand government to eliminate invasive predators from
the country by 2050. The article further goes on to discuss the
effects the predators have had on the native wildlife. This lesson
is designed to support reading in the content area. The lesson
plan includes a vocabulary handout, text-dependent questions, a
writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric.
Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea
Name
Building Websites about
Endangered Species
Description
Technology and web design can help students communicate
information about an endangered species.
Listen in as this teacher explains how students can do their own
Invasive Species Research
research to can help them understand invasive species and the
Projects
dangers they pose to an ecosystem.
The Importance of Sea Grass Alicia Brown describes the role of sea grass beds in the
Beds
environment.
Perspectives Video: Expert
Name
Bycatch and the Impact on
Biodiversity
Habitat Changes in Related to
Phosphorous Pollution in the
Everglades
Measuring Biodiversity to
Evaluate Human Impact
Periphyton in the Everglades
Protect our Fisheries from
Invasive Species
Description
Dean Grubbs of Florida State Universisty, discusses the
impact bycatch has on ocean life.
Watch as Dr. Stephen E. Davis, III explains how excess
phosphorous pollution is impacting the Everglades.
Humans impact the environment in a number of ways. Learn
more about how we interact with nature!
Periphyton plays several vital roles in the Everglades. Watch
now to find out more!
Lionfish and other species are roaring past our native
populations. Learn more.
Protecting Biodiversity in AtRisk Ecosystems
Shark Population Analysis
and Policy
Why did we throw it away?
Dr. Bill McShea from the Smithsonian Institution discusses how
he works to ameliorate negative human impacts on the
enviroment to maintain healthy biodiversity.
This video was created in collaboration with the Okaloosa
County SCIENCE Partnership, including the Smithsonian
Institution and Harvard University.
Enric Cortes discuses shark population data collected and the
use of data to influence policy decisions.
Dean Grubbs explains how different types of trash, like plastics,
ends up in the ocean and how they become a detriment to
marine life.
Teaching Idea
Name
Description
Students will be able to use a world map or globe to locate the
Endangered Species
distribution of at least 10 endangered species and describe the
Worldwide
current threats and conservation efforts concerning one
endangered species of animal or plant.
Given a current environmental situation, the student will be able
Fur Seal Survey-SeaWorld
to gather information, organize, analyze, and present data. They
Classroom Activity
will participate in a decision-making process.
Given a common environmental situation, students will research
Lagoon Debate-SeaWorld
available literature or other resources for more information, and
Classroom Activity
logically argue a viewpoint. They will be able to demonstrate a
real-life decision-making process and evaluate its outcome.
Students will use the Internet to determine the population status
Manatees on the 'Netof the Florida manatee and will use the information to debate
SeaWorld Classroom Activity
the extinction or recovery of the manatee.
Polar Opposites-SeaWorld
Students will be able to understand the effects of introducing
Classroom Activity
geographically non-native species to a new environment.
Video/Audio/Animation
Name
Description
This video chronicles the efforts of a researcher dedicated to
Endangered: Giant Catfish
rescuing the giant catfish of the Mekong River.
This video documents the rise of invasive bullfrog populations
Invasive Bullfrogs in Arizona
in Arizona as they threaten the existence of native species.
In this NSF video and reading selection evolutionary biologist
Mount St. Helens: Rising
and ecologist John Bishop documents the return of living things
From the Ashes
to Mount St. Helens after the largest landslide in recorded
history. This is a rare opportunity for scientists to get to study a
devastated area and how it comes back from scratch in such
detail.
Lesson Study Resource Kit
Name
Exploring Diversity and
Evolution: A Lesson Study
Resource Kit for grades 9-12
Description
This lesson study resource kit is designed to support lesson
study teams in developing a unit of instruction for students in
grades 9-12 on the topic of diversity and evolution.
Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast
Name
Graphs Help Identify CostEffective Sea Turtle
Conservation Strategies
Description
This marine biologist discusses her use of graphical
representations to help determine the most cost-effective
management strategies for sea turtle conservation.
Resource Collection
Name
South Florida Aquatic
Environments
Description
This website's interactive content highlights three imperiled
south Florida ecosystems: the Everglades, Florida Bay, and
Florida Keys. Provides introduction, definition, and image of
each habitat type within the ecosystems; outlines threats to
ecosystems and conservation issues. Other features include:
introduced species and their impacts; biological profiles for
marine and freshwater fishes from the Florida Museum's
ichthyology collection; and Florida-related word search and
crossword puzzles.
Tutorial
Name
The Case of the Vanishing
Honeybees
Description
In the past decade, the US honeybee population has been
decreasing at an alarming and unprecedented rate. While this is
obviously bad news for honeypots everywhere, bees also help
feed us in a bigger way -- by pollinating our nation's crops.
Emma Bryce investigates potential causes for this widespread
colony collapse disorder.
Model Eliciting Activity (MEA) STEM Lesson
Name
The Price of Success: Wolf
Population Management
Description
In this MEA lesson, students will come up with a strategy to
choose among proposals for managing wolf populations in the
state of Wyoming. They will make an evidence-based
recommendation to the state based on the costs and benefits of
maintaining a healthy wolf population outside of Yellowstone
National Park.
Professional Development
Name
Yosemite Burning
Description
This tutorial is designed to help secondary science teachers
learn how to integrate literacy skills within their curriculum.
This tutorial focuses on evaluating the reasoning and evidence
of an argumentative claim. The focus on literacy across content
areas is designed to help students independently build
knowledge in different disciplines through reading and writing.
Student Resources
Name
Endangered: Giant
Catfish
Invasive Bullfrogs in
Arizona
Measuring
Biodiversity to
Evaluate Human
Impact
Description
This video chronicles the efforts of a researcher dedicated to rescuing
the giant catfish of the Mekong River.
This video documents the rise of invasive bullfrog populations in
Arizona as they threaten the existence of native species.
Humans impact the environment in a number of ways. Learn more
about how we interact with nature!
In this NSF video and reading selection evolutionary biologist and
Mount St. Helens:
ecologist John Bishop documents the return of living things to Mount
Rising From the
St. Helens after the largest landslide in recorded history. This is a rare
Ashes
opportunity for scientists to get to study a devastated area and how it
comes back from scratch in such detail.
Protect our Fisheries Lionfish and other species are roaring past our native populations.
from Invasive Species Learn more.
In the past decade, the US honeybee population has been decreasing at
an alarming and unprecedented rate. While this is obviously bad news
The Case of the
for honeypots everywhere, bees also help feed us in a bigger way -- by
Vanishing Honeybees
pollinating our nation's crops. Emma Bryce investigates potential causes
for this widespread colony collapse disorder.
Parent Resources
Name
Measuring
Biodiversity to
Evaluate Human
Impact
Protect our Fisheries
from Invasive Species
Description
Humans impact the environment in a number of ways. Learn more
about how we interact with nature!
Lionfish and other species are roaring past our native populations.
Learn more.