Biodiversity, Wetlands, and Biological Control:
Information and Activities for Young Scientists
Purple Loosestrife: A Case Study
Biodiversity
Activity 1: Illinois and the World: A Comparison of Biological
Diversity
Activity 2: Name That Habitat
Activity 3: Numbers, Numbers, and More Numbers
Activity 4: A Natural Areas Inventory
Wetlands: Habitats in Peril
Activity 1: How Do I Know a Wetland When I See One?
Activity 2: Wetland Vocabulary
Activity 3: Wet and Wild
Too Much Biodiversity?
The Purple Loosestrife Story
Biological Control
Activity 1: What's Going On?
Activity 2: A Pest, or Not a Pest, That Is the Question
Activity 3: Aliens, Unwanted Invaders, and Biogeography
Activity 4: Natural Enemies: They're in the Cards
Activity 5: Population Dynamics: A Simulation of Nature
Activity 6: Choose Your Enemies Carefully
Activity 7: Biological Control By the Numbers
Procedures for Rearing Galerucella calmariensis and Galerucella
pusilla Indoors Under Artificial Conditions
Experiments with Loosestrife Beetles
Experimental Activity 1: Beetle Population Growth
Experimental Activity 2: Biological Control Agent: Host -Plant
Specificity
The above outlines the broad approach from which the invasion of purple loosestrife, its impact on wetland environments, and its eventual control using biological agents can be studied. Each section of the outline is accompanied by explanatory background text for teachers and activities are outlined in a standardized format. Time required for each activity varies from part of a period to multiple 50 minute periods. Materials to be copied and handed out to students are included as necessary for each activity. Background materials are supported by a video and slide set. Written materials total 188 pages.
Information on this page maintained by David Voegtlin.