Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

13.A Use a model to make predictions and test ideas about how disruptions, or changes, to one part of the system affect populations throughout the system.

13.A Use a model to make predictions and test ideas about how disruptions, or changes, to one part of the system affect populations throughout the system.

See the Key Ideas above.

If students are struggling to make predictions about what will happen to populations, have them use a highlighter to draw attention to the first population that is affected (e.g., oil palm) and then trace any interaction lines to other populations that would be affected. This will help students see the ripple effects in the tropical rainforest and how those effects are more consequential in the monocrop oil palm farm. If students are struggling to use Stability and Change in this context, ask them to generate ideas for the kinds of data they would want to see to decide (1) if the disruption resulted from a gradual or sudden event, (2) if the impacts from it were short-lived or long-term, and (3) how focused or widespread the disruption was for the system.

If farming is central to students’ communities, extend this opportunity to draw out real-world disruptions that they and their community have experienced. This will create more realistic disruption scenarios that farmers experience.