1. Nutria Rat and the Wetlands 1. What is biodiversity? 2. What are the four ways that humans are decreasing biodiversity? 3. What is threatening the polar bear? 4. Why does deforestation threaten plants and animals? 5. Why does reducing biodiversity threaten us humans?

2. Objectives By the end of today, all SWBAT…  Describe the value of the wetlands  Explain how the nutria rat is decreasing the biodiversity of LA’s wetlands

3. Agenda  Finish yesterday’s video  Wetlands: what are they, why do we care?  Invasive species  Example: Nutria Rat  Stations  Exit Question

4. What is a wetland?

5. Jean Lafitte National Park  Right in our backyard…

6. Key Point #1: The Louisiana wetlands are important for a healthy LA—both the environment and the people

7. Wetlands: in between terrestrial (land) and aquatic (water) ecosystems Aquatic Wetland Terrestrial

8. Movie Question: What are three things that define a wetland

9. Where are wetlands located?  All along the coast of LA  40% of the U.S.’s wetlands are located in LA!!!!!

10.  There are MANY different types of wetlands…  And they often look very different

11. Forested Wetlands… Swamps

12. Grassy Wetlands: Marshes

13. Open water

14. Marshland

15. So what?  Key Point #2: Wetlands are valuable for five reasons  Home to fish and animals  Clean pollutants out of the water  Reduce flooding  Slow down hurricanes  Provide money and jobs to people

16. Value of wetlands 1. Home to fish and animals  1/3 of birds and mammals live here  Almost ALL amphibians live in wetlands

17. Value of the wetlands 2. Cleans water of pollutants  Plants suck up pollution like a vacuum

18. Value of the wetlands 3. Reduces flooding  Works like a sponge to soak up excess water  Keeps other areas from flooding

19. Value of the wetlands 4. Slows down hurricanes  Works like a FENCE between water and land

20. Value of the Wetlands 5. Provides MONEY and jobs to people  In 2006, 26% of the nation’s oil  Between 25-35% of the nation’s fish  950 million pounds of seafood every year  $37 billion per year

21. Invasive Species are a Huge Threat  Key Point #3: Invasive species reduce biodiversity by…  Preying upon (eating) other species  Eating other species’ food  Destroying other species’ habitat

22. How do invasive species get there?  Accidentally, by…  Boat  Plane  Intentionally  Pets  Decorative plants

23.  The nutria rat is an invasive species that is dramatically harming the LA wetlands  Remember…  Invasive species: NON-NATIVE plants and animals that have a NEGATIVE influence on an area Nutria Rat

24. Invasive species of Louisiana wetlands

25. 3.7 Classwork: Part A  Answer the questions below from the video we are about to watch

26. 3.7 Classwork: Part B Directions: With a partner, answer the four reading questions from the paragraphs at your lab stations  Paragraph 1  Question 1  Paragraph 2  Question 2  Etc.

27. Part C. Food Webs What do nutria rats eat? How does this impact all other parts of the food web???

28. Key Point Wrap-Up  The Louisiana wetlands are important for a healthy LA—both the environment and the people  Home to many plants and animals, cleans water, reduces flooding, slows hurricanes, money and jobs to people  Invasive species reduce biodiversity  Prey upon (eat) other species  Eat other species’ food  Destroy other species’ habitat  The nutria rat is an invasive species that dramatically harms the LA wetlands  Eats wetland plants

29. Exit Questions 1. What are two ways that humans benefit from the wetlands? 2. Explain why nutria rats are an invasive species. 3. Describe in complete sentences how the nutria rat decreases biodiversity in the wetlands.