Download Case Study: Exotic Species

6th Grade Science Case Study: Exotic Species
6th Grade Science Case Study: Exotic Species
Exotic species are living things that find a new home in a place
where they did not exist before. One type of exotic species
poses a problem to Michigan and the Great Lakes – the Asian
carp. The Asian carp are a large threat to the Great Lakes
because of their size and ability to eat large amounts of food.
Asian carp may grow up to 100 pounds and as large as four feet
in length. They can live in the cold water climate of the Great
Lakes region, which is similar to their native habitat. They may
compete with other more valuable fish for food. If they enter
the Great Lakes, they would likely become a dominant species
in the food chain. This can be seriously damaging to the
Great Lakes ecosystem, resulting in loss of organisms and
biodiversity, destroying various food webs, and impacting
economically on important fish species that people use for
food.
Exotic species are living things that find a new home in a place
where they did not exist before. One type of exotic species
poses a problem to Michigan and the Great Lakes – the Asian
carp. The Asian carp are a large threat to the Great Lakes
because of their size and ability to eat large amounts of food.
Asian carp may grow up to 100 pounds and as large as four feet
in length. They can live in the cold water climate of the Great
Lakes region, which is similar to their native habitat. They may
compete with other more valuable fish for food. If they enter
the Great Lakes, they would likely become a dominant species
in the food chain. This can be seriously damaging to the
Great Lakes ecosystem, resulting in loss of organisms and
biodiversity, destroying various food webs, and impacting
economically on important fish species that people use for
food.
In the early 1990’s, the Asian carp escaped into the Mississippi
River from a lab which studies about fish when the labs
became flooded. The Asian carp have made their way
northward. Currently, the carp have been found near the
Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal that connects the Mississippi
River to the Great Lakes and have been sighted approximately
40 miles from Lake Michigan.
In the early 1990’s, the Asian carp escaped into the Mississippi
River from a lab which studies about fish when the labs
became flooded. The Asian carp have made their way
northward. Currently, the carp have been found near the
Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal that connects the Mississippi
River to the Great Lakes and have been sighted approximately
40 miles from Lake Michigan.
The Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal is over 100 years old and
is a very important shipping link from the Great Lakes to the
Mississippi River. Water comes from the Great Lakes and is
discharged into the Mississippi River watershed. A watershed
is an area that is drained by a river. Some barges use this
canal to transport goods.
The Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal is over 100 years old and
is a very important shipping link from the Great Lakes to the
Mississippi River. Water comes from the Great Lakes and is
discharged into the Mississippi River watershed. A watershed
is an area that is drained by a river. Some barges use this
canal to transport goods.
Imagine that you work for the Chicago department of public
works. You have received many complaints from people about
the possibility of the Asian carp coming through the Chicago
Ship and Sanitary Canal, but you also have heard business
officials discuss the importance of keeping the canal open for
shipping.
Should you close down the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal to
protect the Great Lakes from the Asian carp?
Imagine that you work for the Chicago department of public
works. You have received many complaints from people about
the possibility of the Asian carp coming through the Chicago
Ship and Sanitary Canal, but you also have heard business
officials discuss the importance of keeping the canal open for
shipping.
Should you close down the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal to
protect the Great Lakes from the Asian carp?
Project:
Project:
Slide 1: Title (The Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal) with
names of the authors.
Slide 1: Title (The Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal) with
names of the authors.
Slide 2: State your position! Should you close down the
Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal to protect the Great Lakes
from the Asian carp? Justify why you should or why you
should not close the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal.
Slide 2: State your position! Should you close down the
Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal to protect the Great Lakes
from the Asian carp? Justify why you should or why you
should not close the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal.
Slide 3: What are some other possible solutions that could be
used to stop the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes?
Slide 3: What are some other possible solutions that could be
used to stop the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes?