Module 4 Lab

The purpose of the Module 4 Lab is to evaluate and defend conservation techniques for gray wolves in the American west.

You will have the opportunity to develop skills/knowledge in:

• Utilizing terminology and concepts related to biodiversity
• Identifying the causes of the sixth mass extinction
• Recognizing opportunities and challenges for species recovery efforts
• Evaluating and defending conservation techniques

In order to complete this module, you will complete the following tasks:

• In this week’s lab, everyone will write a research paper and participate in a role-playing discussion.
• The scenario for our role-play is that 6 conservation groups are competing for $500,000 from 3 generous conservation-minded investors.
• Though you will work on this lab independently, each student should sign up for the role/conservation method they’d like to play on the People tab (go to Groups, move your name into the topic you’d like to research).
• The six conservation roles include (see additional information in the tips for success section at the bottom of this page):

1. 1. 1. Representative for a non-profit organization advocating for stronger federal and/or state legal protections for wolves (such as Greenpeace, Sierra Club, etc.)
      2. Representative for a non-profit that funds the privatization of land or training for private landowners to coexist with livestock (such as the Land Conservancy or the Wildlands Network)
      3. Representative for ranchers (people who keep livestock) arguing for resources to protect livestock (such as non-profit Defenders of Wildlife)
      4. Scientist arguing for more research on the gray wolf
      5. Wolf sanctuary or zoo representative promoting captive breeding programs, education and awareness
      6. Washington Department of Transportation representative advocating for funding for additional highway wildlife crossings

• • If you are playing a conservation role, follow these instructions:

1. 1. 1. Research your conservation method and write a maximum 1-page essay explaining how this method helps conserve species, specifically gray wolves. Be specific! Provide data, facts and figures from the websites provided below, the What to do Module 4 page and your own research. Include your sources. Submit your paper on this assignment link.
      2. Next, write a discussion post from the perspective of your role in the Module 4 Lab Discussion (no more than 1 paragraph) highlighting the most important points of your research. Other students that researched the same topic should reply, adding more support for the method. Write a convincing argument for why that conservation method is effective and should be funded. For example, if you are a wolf sanctuary representative, you could start, “Hello, I represent Wolf Haven and we are a critical organization that deserves investment because we release wolves back into the wild . . . and lots of convincing arguments as to why you are critical to conserving wolves“.
      3. Next, reply to 1 other role arguing as to why your method is superior to that one. The more data you have to support your ideas, the better! For example, if you are playing a scientist arguing for more research, you might choose to tear a hole in argument presented by the ranchers.
      4. Finally, respond to the question or comment posed by the investor (or me). For example, if you are playing a scientist arguing for more research and the investor asks a question about how your science will be used by policy makers to protect wolves, you could cite an example of when that’s been done in the past.

• In addition to the 6 conservation roles above, a panel of 3 students will play the role of investors and will identify the most convincing method of conservation that they’d like to fund.
  • If you are playing the role of an investor, follow these instructions:

1. 1. 1. Post a well-researched question to 4 of the different conservation roles (include sources). Your post should point out the flaws in their argument. Think about what it would take to convince you that their method is the best. For example, if you are the investor, you could post a question to a rep. for legal protections (role 1), rep. for land privatization (role 2), the rep. for ranchers (role 3) and the scientist (role 4).
      2. Next, make a final decision on the best conservation method you learned about. Write a maximum 1-page essay highlighting data and information shared in the discussion that led you to your opinion. The investors’ essays will be due after you’ve had time to read all the discussion posts.

Use the following criteria/tips for success:

• Reference the grading rubric for this assignment
• Don’t forget that you have a lab group discussion page!
• Here is a great deal more information about your roles

1. Non-profit advocating for federal and/or state legal protection (such as Greenpeace, Sierra Club, etc.): Gray wolves are currently federally listed as an endangered species, from extirpation in 1930 up to 1500 wolves in the western US in 2014. Congress will be voting on the status of wolves this year. If they remain on the list, there are large fines and jail time for killing them, except in places where they’ve been federally delisted with Congressionally approved conservation plans. If they are removed, they will be managed by individual states. Some states are eager for their removal once more. What’s missing is public education on the issue so that people can reach out to senators and house representatives on whether they should retain their endangered status. Make sure to explain this complicated legal situation to the investor panel and why you believe wolves should be legally protected from removal. Further Research: US Fish and Wildlife Service Gray Wolf Recovery (Links to an external site.), WA Department of Fish and Wildlife Wolf Management page (Links to an external site.), Sierra Club Wolves (Links to an external site.)
2. Representative for a non-profit that funds the privatization of land or training for private landowners to coexist with livestock: Endangered wolves would be feared or killed if there weren’t so many people spread out over the US. Some organizations work to purchase land for the purpose of indefinite conservation or if land is already owned privately, help landowners understand and deter wolf encounters. Make sure to explain that the majority of land in the US is privately owned (~70%) so any action that can affect what happens there can have a big impact Gray wolves don’t know when they are crossing onto private property! Further Research: Nature Conservancy (Links to an external site.)as well as the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act (Links to an external site.) (which would allow conservation easements to create wildlife corridors).
3. Rancher representative in need of resources to protect livestock: The main opponent to the spread of wolves in the western US is ranchers who fear for property loss. If protected under the Endangered Species Act, ranchers cannot kill wolves even when they lose property (livestock). A host of options exist for non-lethal deterrents to wolves. What is missing is a large-scale education program to share those resources. Make sure to explain what usually happens on a ranch when a wolf is suspected of killing livestock (research how WA Fish and Wildlife come in and kill the whole pack by helicopter!), what resources/education specifically you believe ranchers should be provided with that would prevent wolf depredation, etc. Further Research: Defenders of Wildlife (Links to an external site.), People and Carnivores (Links to an external site.)
4. Researcher/scientist on the gray wolf: The removal of wolves has caused a trophic cascade in many ecosystems. The most documented has been in Yellowstone National Park and their reintroduction has quickly altered the habitat to reflect what was there pre-1930. Now research struggles to study those ecosystems outside the park that still lack wolves and those where wolves have ventured and how they are recovering if at all. Make sure to explain the results of some important scientific research that has helped make the case to protect wolves, current research projects that need funding, other wolf-related research that you believe is important to explore, etc. Further research: The Global Trophic Cascades program (Links to an external site.) and specific paper from them: Ripple, W.J., Beschta, R.L. Trophic cascades in Yellowstone: The first 15 years after wolf reintroduction. Biol. Conserv. (2011) (Links to an external site.)
5. Wolf sanctuary employee promoting captive breeding programs, education and awareness Are zoos for the purpose of entertainment or wildlife conservation or both? The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle has a pack of wolves and receives 1 million visitors a year. Zoos attract a wide audience, not necessarily those interested in environmental issues. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plans manages the genetics of those species that are most endangered, such as the Mexican Gray Wolf. What’s missing is an effective display showing the importance of wolves in ecosystems. Other education facilities, such as the remote wolf sanctuary in Tenino, WA only offers guided tours and aims to educate visitors about the ecological role of wolves. The sanctuary is only for rescued wolves in place of euthanization. Their rescued gray wolves in large enclosures serve as a powerful educational tool. The sanctuary also breeds endangered Mexican wolves for release in the wild in Arizona. Few of these sanctuaries exist for rescued wolves and educational purposes. Can their missions be combined? Make sure to explain the mission and history of sanctuaries like Wolf Haven, the significance of furthering captive bred populations like Mexican wolves, challenges but also successes for captive bred populations, how Zoos educate people. Further research: About Woodland Park Zoo (Links to an external site.) , Woodland Park Zoo Gray Wolf page (Links to an external site.), Association of Zoos and Aquariums Mexican Gray Wolf Species Survival Plan (Links to an external site.), About Wolf Haven International (Links to an external site.), Wolf Haven Mexican Gray Wolf captive breeding program (Links to an external site.)
6. Washington Department of Transportation representative advocating for additional highway wildlife crossings: 22 overpasses and 2 underpasses serve as a research station and critical barrier crossing in Banff National Park, Canada. Wildlife crossings have been surprisingly successful at lowering mortality of drivers on the Trans-Canada Highway from wildlife collisions as well as with wildlife, roughly 10,000 crossings per year. More research is needed as to where else these types of structures could be best used. Make sure to explain where current wildlife crossings can be found, when they were installed, the success they’ve had, the type of data collected there currently and what else could be collected, etc. Further research: Parks Canada Wildlife Crossings Project (Links to an external site.), Trans-Canada Highway Wildlife Monitoring and Research Annual Report 2012-2013 (Links to an external site.), Highways through habitats (Links to an external site.)
7. Investor The investor role is for individuals in an ecological conservation agency that have $500,000 to support and/or improve one of five wolf conservation initiatives above. The job of the investor is to carefully to listen to each presentation and then make the case why one will be granted funds but not any of the others.

Rubric

Module 4 Lab

PreviousNext