Debating+biodiversity

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/NR_WQ_2004-1k.pdf In this exercise, students will hold a debate about the construction of a dam in terms of the biological, aesthetic, ethical, social and economic arguments with regard to maintaining biodiversity. Students will be assigned different roles to argue either for or against the dam. When people build a dam on a river it changes the ecosystem in many ways. Dams may impact, both positively and negatively, the biodiversity of terrestrial plant communities, fi sh and other aquatic life, mammals and birds. See the Further Discussion questions following the activity for more information about these impacts. Note that there are many other arguments for and against a new reservoir that do not relate speci fi cally to biodiversity. These include economic opportunity (irrigation or drinking water) versus economic losses ( fl ooded communities or cost of construction), recreational opportunities (boating and fi shing), and opportunities for developers (water front housing), aesthetic considerations and more. Other Stream Side Science activities such as, That’s Predictable and Missing Macroinvertebrates, may be helpful for the students to review how ecosystems change due to various factors. More information about dams can be found on the internet sites listed on the Resource pages.