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Welcome to McMangrove’s – Determining the Importance of Mangrove Leaves in a Tree Crab’s Diet
Scientists investigated how typhoons impacted the importance of microorganisms in sesarmid crab diets. The scientists also wanted to discover whether the mangrove leaves were a more important food source than scientists previously thought for this type of sesarmid crab.
Welcome to McMangrove’s – Determining the Importance of Mangrove Leaves in a Tree Crab’s Diet
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The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: Which organisms on a mythical planet are producers, consumers, and decomposers? Materials: Large sheet of blank paper Pencil and eraser Markers,...FACTivity – Welcome to McMangrove’s
The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: Which organisms on a mythical planet are producers, consumers, and decomposers? Materials: Large sheet of blank paper Pencil and eraser Markers,...
Glossary
View All Glossaryalgae
(al jē): Simple, plantlike organism.
cyanobacteria
(sī ə nō bak tir ē ə): A major group of photosynthetic bacteria that are single-celled but often form colonies in the form of filaments, sheets, or spheres and are found in diverse environments (such as salt and fresh water, soils, and on rocks).
enrichment
(ǝn rich mǝnt): The addition or increase of some desirable quality, attribute, or ingredient.
food chain
(füd chān): A sequence of organisms in which each depends on the next, and usually lower, member as a source of food.
microorganism
(mī krō ȯr gə ni zəm): An organism or life form of microscopic size.
organic
(ȯr ga nik): Of, relating to, or obtained from living things.
predator
(pre də tər): An animal that preys on other animals for food.
propagule
(prä pə gyül): A structure (such as a cutting, a seed, or a spore) that reproduces a plant.
ratio
(rā shē ō): The relationship in quantity, amount, or size between two or more things.
sample
(sam pəl): A small subset group, representative of the entire group.
sediment
(se dǝ mǝnt): Material deposited by water, wind, or glaciers.
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Nicole Cormier
Ecologist
My favorite science experience has been traveling and working on tropical islands like those in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). I have been fortunate to work in old growth...View Profile -
Amanda Demopoulos
Ecologist
It is hard for me to select my favorite science experience! Whenever I have the chance to go in the field, whether trudging through the mangrove forest, diving on coral...View Profile -
Richard MacKenzie
Aquatic Ecologist
When I was little, I used to come home from the creek behind our house covered in mud. I still do. I love that I get to study fish, insects,...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Social Studies Standards
- Culture
- Global Connections
- People, Places, and Environments
- Science, Technology, and Society
- Time, Continuity, and Change
Note To Educators
The Forest Service's Mission
The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. For more than 100 years, our motto has been “caring for the land and serving people.” The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes its responsibility to be engaged in efforts to connect youth to nature and to promote the development of science-based conservation education programs and materials nationwide.
What Is the Natural Inquirer?
Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.
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Meet the Scientists
Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.
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What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?
Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.
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Thinking About Science
Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.
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Thinking About the Environment
Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.
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Introduction
Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.
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Method
Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.
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Findings & Discussion
Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.
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Reflection Section
Presents questions aimed at stimulating critical thinking about what has been read or predicting what might be presented in the next section. These questions are placed at the end of each of the main article sections.
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Number Crunches
Presents an easy math problem related to the research.
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Glossary
Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.
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Citation
Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.
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FACTivity
Presents a hands-on activity that emphasizes something presented in the article.
Science Education Standards
You will find a listing of education standards which are addressed by each article at the back of each publication and on our website.
We Welcome Feedback
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Contact
Jessica Nickelsen
Director, Natural Inquirer program -
Email
Education Files
Project Learning Tree
If you are a Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Web of Life,” “Nature’s Recyclers,” and “The Fallen Log” as additional resources.
Related Resources from the Natural Inquirer
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From 1920 to 1950, a tree species called albizia (Falcataria moluccana) was brought to Hawai‘i from islands located north and northeast of Australia. A fast-growing tree, albizia now grows all...Don’t Litter the Stream: An Invasive Tree Species and a Hawaiian Stream Food Web
From 1920 to 1950, a tree species called albizia (Falcataria moluccana) was brought to Hawai‘i from islands located north and northeast of Australia. A fast-growing tree, albizia now grows all... -
Mangrove forests include trees and shrubs found in the tropics that have large root structures and create barriers that help protect coastlines. The mangrove forests provide protection for the villages,...Mangrove Mania: How Elevation Change and Sea-Level Rise Affect Mangrove Forests
Mangrove forests include trees and shrubs found in the tropics that have large root structures and create barriers that help protect coastlines. The mangrove forests provide protection for the villages,... -
The scientists in this study were interested in environmental changes occuring in the Southern United States. The scientists were interested in changes occuring over a long time. In particular, the...Everything but the Carbon Sink: Carbon Storage in the Southern United States
The scientists in this study were interested in environmental changes occuring in the Southern United States. The scientists were interested in changes occuring over a long time. In particular, the...
Additional Resources
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Smithsonian: Mangroves
Visit WebsiteMangroves are survivors. With their roots submerged in water, mangrove trees thrive in hot, muddy, salty conditions that would quickly kill most plants. How do they do it? Read more about mangroves from the Smithsonian.
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Conservation International: Mangroves
Visit WebsiteExplore additional facts about mangroves.
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National Park Service: Lake Mead food web
Visit WebsiteLearn more about food webs from the National Park Service.
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Wild Singapore: Sesarmid Crabs
Visit WebsiteLearn more about sesarmid crabs
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Science Daily: Trophic Levels
Visit WebsiteRead more about tropic levels.