Ecosystem Services – Vol. 12 No. 1
Ecosystem services are the benefits that nature provides through natural processes. For example, plants provide clean air, natural fire helps cycle nutrients, and bats act as insect control. Ecosystem services are valued by people, even if people do not always think about where these services come from. The identification of ecosystem services enables scientists to show people that ecosystems are important to everyone. Learn more about ecosystem services in this edition and then look around you to see how ecosystems benefit your community!
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Highlights
- 4 Articles
- 6 Activities
- 1 Lesson Plan
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Most rivers in the United States are now regulated. A regulated river is one whose flow is controlled by dams. The regulation of rivers, however, alters the relationship between rivers...
Toad-ally Awesome! Investigating the Relationship Between Flooding and Toad Reproduction Along the Rio Grande
Most rivers in the United States are now regulated. A regulated river is one whose flow is controlled by dams. The regulation of rivers, however, alters the relationship between rivers... -
This article looks at how long-term weather patterns affect Carolina Bay Wetlands.
What Goes Around Comes Around: How Long-Term Weather Patterns Affect Plants in Carolina Bay Wetlands
This article looks at how long-term weather patterns affect Carolina Bay Wetlands. -
Globalization causes many things to happen. For the scientists in this study, globalization has increased the spread of invasive species. If scientists can predict the spread of invasive species, the...
Think Outside the Box: Predicting the Spread of Invasive Species
Globalization causes many things to happen. For the scientists in this study, globalization has increased the spread of invasive species. If scientists can predict the spread of invasive species, the... -
In this article, scientists explore the different ecosystem services provided by prairie potholes such as soil nutrients, absorbing carbon, and reducing soil erosion.
Fill Those Potholes! Identifying Ecosystem Services of Small Wetlands on the American Prairie
In this article, scientists explore the different ecosystem services provided by prairie potholes such as soil nutrients, absorbing carbon, and reducing soil erosion.
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You learned in this article that flooding can provide a service to the toads living along the Rio Grande in New Mexico. When flooding occurs in the spring, wet areas...
FACTivity – Toad-ally Awesome
You learned in this article that flooding can provide a service to the toads living along the Rio Grande in New Mexico. When flooding occurs in the spring, wet areas... -
This FACTivity will represent the methods the scientists used to collect vegetation data in the study. The question students will answer in this FACTivity is: How well does sampling work...
FACTivity – What Goes Around Comes Around
This FACTivity will represent the methods the scientists used to collect vegetation data in the study. The question students will answer in this FACTivity is: How well does sampling work... -
In this activity, students will explore their schoolyard at different scales. The question students will answer is: What are the similarities and differences of the schoolyard ecosystem at different scales?
FACTivity – Thinking Outside the Box
In this activity, students will explore their schoolyard at different scales. The question students will answer is: What are the similarities and differences of the schoolyard ecosystem at different scales? -
The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: What are other ecosystem services provided by the Nation’s natural resources? To complete this FACTivity, you will use what you’ve learned...
FACTivity – Fill Those Potholes
The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: What are other ecosystem services provided by the Nation’s natural resources? To complete this FACTivity, you will use what you’ve learned... -
Test your knowledge on invasive species, invertebrates, and freshwater.
Word Search – Ecosystem Services
Test your knowledge on invasive species, invertebrates, and freshwater. -
Test your knowledge on ecosystems, vegetation, and erosion.
Crossword – Ecosystem Services
Test your knowledge on ecosystems, vegetation, and erosion.
Glossary
View All GlossaryClassroom Review Board
Ms. Janet Johns’ 7th Grade Class
- Cass Middle School
- Cartersville, GA
Editorial Review Board Comments
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Heather Bateman
My favorite science experience has always been working with wildlife. I enjoyed placing leg bands on long-eared owls in the United States Great Basin. I also enjoyed tagging lava lizards...View Profile -
Alice Chung-MacCourbrey
My favorite science experience was a research project that allowed me to combine two of my biggest interests, dogs and bats. Dogs have a superb sense of smell that can...View Profile -
Tom Crist
My favorite science experience was conducting field studies on the biodiversity of forest canopy insects in Ohio.View Profile -
Diane De Steven
My favorite science experience is working in the field and observing the plants and animals of different habitats. I can get a break from city noises, hear the quiet sounds...View Profile -
Chip Euliss
I am a pretty lucky fellow because I’ve had many favorite science experiences over my career. Writing this to you is one of my favorites. This is because what I...View Profile -
Robert Gleason
Research Wildlife Biologist: As a wildlife biologist I have had many memorable experiences conducting field work in wetlands, including studying soils, plants, aquatic insects and other animals, and especially waterfowl....View Profile -
Glenn Guntenspergen
As a young boy, I owned and read every Tom Swift, Jr., book ever written. Those books inspired me to become a scientist, and throughout my adult life I have...View Profile -
Mary Harner
My favorite science experiences are conducting field research along rivers and in the tropics. Recently, I have had the fortune to study the ecology of bats on the island of...View Profile -
Murray Laubhan
My favorite science experience is learning something new that helps land managers successfully restore wetlands.View Profile -
Ariel Lugo
“My favorite science experience is trying to understand the functioning of natural ecosystems in collaboration with bright people, including high school students.” “[Another] favorite science experience is interacting with other...View Profile -
Bob Parmenter
“[One of] my favorite science experience[s] has been working on the Mount St. Helens volcano since its explosive eruption in 1980. In the early years after the eruption, the roads...View Profile -
Chrissa Stroh
I have wonderful science experiences every day! Watching the sun rise, seeing birds fly overhead, or observing the neat shapes of flowers and leaves on plants outside. One of my...View Profile -
Brian Tangen
My favorite science experience involved canoeing and back-country camping in the boundary waters wilderness area in northern Minnesota. I did this to conduct research on bald eagle habitat.View Profile
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
Lessons
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This lesson plan has students analyze how an article fits into the broader theme of the journal, specifically the Ecosystem Services edition of Natural Inquirer. Also included is a bonus...
Lesson Plan – Ecosystem Services
This lesson plan has students analyze how an article fits into the broader theme of the journal, specifically the Ecosystem Services edition of Natural Inquirer. Also included is a bonus...