EstuaryLive: Live Broadcasts, Videos, Virtual Field Trips, Events, Distance Learning

	EstuaryLive Program Description

Weeks Bay NERR, Alabama

Date: May 15th

Times: (Eastern Daylight Time) -- Time Zone Converter

11:00am - 12:00pm &
2:00pm - 3:00pm

Program Title: Endangered and Threatened Species in Coastal Alabama

Suggested Grade Level: 6-12, but segments will appeal to younger ages

Field Trip Overview:
Coastal habitats contain a diverse assemblage of wildlife. These organisms play important roles in our ecosystem, but many are in decline and are at risk of becoming extinct. What factors are contributing to their decline and what are scientists doing to help protect these organisms and their habitat? More importantly, what can you do to help?

Find answers to these questions and more as we broadcast Live from the shore of beautiful Weeks Bay in coastal Alabama. Join wildlife experts as they interact with live animals and discuss the many threats to our coastal ecosystems.

Field Trip Outline:
Introduction by Reserve manager, education coordinator and staff (4 minutes)
In this section you will learn about Weeks Bay Reserve and where we are located. You will also learn what an estuary is, what makes Weeks Bay an estuary, and why estuaries are important.

What questions do you have? (3 minutes)
Students will be invited to ask questions about each segment; chosen questions will be answered live, on-air.

An overview of the show will be presented (1 minute)

Listen as experts discuss differences in threatened and endangered species. Discover some of the leading causes of animals being listed. Are these things occurring in your area of the country? How might losing one animal from a habitat affect that habitat? (7 minutes)

Ask more questions (3 minutes)

Salt marsh habitat segment (5 minutes)
Meet wildlife experts and watch as they showcase two salt marsh animals, the brown pelican and the diamondback terrapin. What is the role of these animals in their habitat and what is causing their decline?

Ask more questions (4 minutes)

Freshwater, wetland segment (5 minutes)
Meet wildlife experts and watch as they showcase two freshwater, wetland animals, the Alabama red-bellied turtle and the alligator. What is the role of these animals in their habitat and what is causing their decline?

Ask more questions (4 minutes)

Longleaf pine segment (5 minutes)
Meet wildlife experts and watch as they showcase two animals of the longleaf pine ecosystem, the gopher tortoise and the indigo snake. What is the role of these animals in their habitat and what is causing their decline?

Ask more questions (4 minutes)

Wrap-up and Bye! (3 minutes)

Student Learner Objectives:

Students will be able to visually locate the Weeks Bay Estuary on a map.
Students will be able to describe what an estuary is and list two ways that they are important.
Students will be able to explain the differences in the terms endangered, threatened, and rare.
Students will be able to describe the physical and biological components of a salt marsh habitat and list the niche of 2 animals that live there.
Students will be able to describe the physical and biological components of a longleaf pine habitat and list the niche of 2 animals that live there.
Students will be able to describe the physical and biological components of a freshwater wetland habitat and list the niche of 2 animals that live there.
Students will be able to describe several manmade threats to these habitats.
Students will be able to explain how global climate change may affect these habitats.
Students will be able to describe at least one conservation management practice for each of these habitats and organisms.

Program Vocabulary:

Biodiversity
Conservation management practice
Endangered species
Estuary
Exotic invasive species
Extinction
Global climate change
Habitat
Habitat degradation
Natural resources
Niche
Prescribed fire
Threatened species
Wetlands

Links to Supporting Materials:
View fact sheets about animals to be covered in this broadcast:

Learn more about Weeks Bay Reserve at: www.weeksbayreserve.com

Learn about estuaries, view archived E-Live broadcasts and segments, and find additional resources at www.estuaries.gov

Ask questions, tell us about your school, and post what you are doing at: estuarylive.pbwiki.com
Students—take quizzes before and after the broadcasts at: estuarylive.pbwiki.com/EstuaryLive-for-STUDENTS

EstuaryLive's Theme for 2009 is to examine "Climate Change Impact on Estuaries". Find several interesting resources on this topic.

National Science Education Standards Addressed:

K-4

Characteristics of organisms
Organisms and environments
Changes in environments
Science and technology in local challenges

5-8

Structure and function in living systems
Populations and ecosystems
Diversity and adaptations of organisms
Populations, resources, and environments

9-12

Interdependence of organisms
Behavior of organisms
Natural resources
Environmental quality
Natural and human-induced hazards
Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

Alabama Science Education Standards Addressed:

K-2

Describe a variety of habitats and natural homes of animals
Identify basic needs of living things
Identify survival strategies
Identify local land forms and bodies of water

3-5

Identify the helpful effects of plants in erosion control
Determine habitat conditions that support plant growth
Describe ways to sustain natural resources including conserving and protecting the environment
Describe the interdependence of plants and animals
Describe the relationship of populations within a habitat to various communities and ecosystems

6-8

Describe factors that cause changes to Earth's surface including global climate changes
Identify geographic factors that cause diversity in flora and fauna, including elevation, location, and climate
Describe biotic and abiotic factors in the environment

9-12

Identify populations, communities and ecosystems as levels of organization in the biosphere
Identify biomes based on environmental factors and native organisms
Identify density-dependent and density-independent limiting factors that affect populations in an ecosystem including hurricanes and climate change
Differentiate among freshwater, brackish water, and saltwater ecosystems
Describe adaptations that allow organisms to exist in specific aquatic environments
Identify the influence of human population, technology,and cultural and industrial changes on the environment
Identify reasons coastal waters serve as an important resource
Identify positive and negative effects of human activities on biodiversity

Contact Information:

Please contact Margaret Sedlecky, Weeks Bay NERR Education Coordinator for more information regarding this program or visit the Weeks Bay NERR website.

Last Updated on: 04-20-2009