A Flame Changer – How Fire Diversity Affects Bee and Butterfly Populations
Open forest ecosystems, like those of longleaf pine or loblolly pine, are managed with regular fires to support native plants and biodiversity. The scientists in this study were interested in how different types and frequencies of prescribed burns might affect populations of native bees and butterflies.
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A school in your area wants to create a pollinator garden. They want their pollinator garden to do two things: 1. Provide a healthy habitat for native insect pollinators. 2....FACTivity – A Flame Changer
A school in your area wants to create a pollinator garden. They want their pollinator garden to do two things: 1. Provide a healthy habitat for native insect pollinators. 2....
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When you think of bees, you may first picture the European honey bee. However, at least 4,000 other bee species live in the United States. Unlike social honey bees, many...Spotlight – Native Bees
When you think of bees, you may first picture the European honey bee. However, at least 4,000 other bee species live in the United States. Unlike social honey bees, many... -
This fact sheet explains the fire triangle and three types of fire found in the forest: ground fire, surface fire, and crown fire.Spotlight – Fuels and Fire Fact Sheet
This fact sheet explains the fire triangle and three types of fire found in the forest: ground fire, surface fire, and crown fire.
Glossary
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Michael Ulyshen
My favorite science experience was collecting insects in French Guiana while I was in graduate school. Grench Guiana is a small South American country to the north of Brazil. To...View Profile -
Conor Fair
I enjoy my field research because I have the opportunity to observe the natural beauty of the field sites. Field work can often be physically demanding, but finding time to...View Profile -
Scott Pokswinski
My favorite science experience was working on large-scale research burns. First of all, it is a blast to see the work of managing prescribed fire on a large scale, and...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Next Generation Science Standards
- ESS3.C-M1Human activities have significantly altered the biosphere, sometimes damaging or destroying natural habitats and causing the extinction of other species. But changes to Earth’s environments can have different impacts (negative and positive) for different living things.
- LS1.B-M2Animals engage in characteristic behaviors that increase the odds of reproduction.
- LS2.A-H1Ecosystems have carrying capacities, which are limits to the numbers of organisms and populations they can support. These limits result from such factors as the availability of living and nonliving resources and from challenges such as predation, competition, and disease. Organisms would have the capacity to produce populations of great size were it not for the fact that environments and resources are finite. This fundamental tension affects the abundance (number of individuals) of species in any given ecosystem.
- LS2.A-M1Organisms, and populations of organisms, are dependent on their environmental interactions both with other living things and with nonliving factors.
- LS2.A-M2In any ecosystem, organisms and populations with similar requirements for food, water, oxygen, or other resources may compete with each other for limited resources, access to which consequently constrains their growth and reproduction.
- LS2.A-M3Growth of organisms and population increases are limited by access to resources.
- LS2.C-H2Moreover, anthropogenic changes (induced by human activity) in the environment—including habitat destruction, pollution, introduction of invasive species, overexploitation, and climate change—can disrupt an ecosystem and threaten the survival of some species.
- LS2.C-M1Ecosystems are dynamic in nature; their characteristics can vary over time. Disruptions to any physical or biological component of an ecosystem can lead to shifts in all its populations.
- LS4.C-H5Species become extinct because they can no longer survive and reproduce in their altered environment. If members cannot adjust to change that is too fast or drastic, the opportunity for the species’ evolution is lost.
- LS4.D-H2Humans depend on the living world for the resources and other benefits provided by biodiversity. But human activity is also having adverse impacts on biodiversity through overpopulation, overexploitation, habitat destruction, pollution, introduction of invasive species, and climate change. Thus, sustaining biodiversity so that ecosystem functioning and productivity are maintained is essential to supporting and enhancing life on Earth. Sustaining biodiversity also aids humanity by preserving landscapes of recreational or inspirational value.
Social Studies Standards
- People, Places, and Environments
- Science, Technology, and Society
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 trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Charting Diversity,” “Web of Life,” “Are Vacant Lots Vacant?,” and “Nothing Succeeds Like Succession” as additional resources.
Related Resources from the Natural Inquirer
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“The Bee Frequency” monograph examines research about how the frequency of lawn mowing may affect bee populations. Learn more about the research as well as building your own pollinator garden...The Bee Frequency – Vol. 1 No. 23
“The Bee Frequency” monograph examines research about how the frequency of lawn mowing may affect bee populations. Learn more about the research as well as building your own pollinator garden... -
The “Knock on Wood” monograph explores the relationship between carbon, fire, longleaf pine, and the red-cockaded woodpecker. Also learn about the gopher tortoise!Knock on Wood – Vol. 1 No. 21
The “Knock on Wood” monograph explores the relationship between carbon, fire, longleaf pine, and the red-cockaded woodpecker. Also learn about the gopher tortoise! -
The “Cream of the Crop” monograph is the first in the Forest & Agriculture series. The research in this monograph looks at how prairie strips affect biodiversity.Cream of the Crop – Vol. 1 No. 20
The “Cream of the Crop” monograph is the first in the Forest & Agriculture series. The research in this monograph looks at how prairie strips affect biodiversity. -
This edition of the Natural Inquirer is all about wildland fire. You will learn about the benefits of wildland fire, as well as some of its dangers. You will learn...Wildland Fire – Vol. 4 No. 1
This edition of the Natural Inquirer is all about wildland fire. You will learn about the benefits of wildland fire, as well as some of its dangers. You will learn... -
This journal focuses on wildland fire. Wildland fire is any fire occurring in vegetation areas, regardless of how it was started. In this edition, you will learn about different types...Wildland Fire 2 – Vol. 13 No. 1
This journal focuses on wildland fire. Wildland fire is any fire occurring in vegetation areas, regardless of how it was started. In this edition, you will learn about different types...
Additional Resources
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USDA Forest Service: Wildland Fires
Visit WebsiteLearn more about wildland fire and being a wildland firefighter and explore a variety of wildland fire resources.
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USDA Forest Service: Pollinators
Visit WebsiteLearn all about pollinators, their role in ecosystems, and what you can do to help pollinators thrive.
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U.S. Geological Survey: Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab
Visit WebsiteThe USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Program designs and develops large- and small-scale surveys for native bees. As part of that program, we also develop identification tools and keys for native bee species. One aspect of creating those tools is creating accurate and detailed pictures of native bees and the plants and insects they interact with.
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USDA Forest Service: Celebrating Wildflowers
Visit WebsiteLearn more about wildflowers, their role in ecosystems, and how you can support native wildflowers.