Big Fish in a Small Pool: Habitat Preferences of Cutthroat Trout
Cutthroat trout are a type of salmon. The scientists in this study wanted to find out if cutthroat trout behave like other salmonids. Other salmonids had been found to swim into preferred locations once more dominant fish had been removed. Dr. Young and his colleagues guessed that when they removed the most dominant cutthroat trout from a mountain river, other trout would quickly move into the locations the more dominant fish had occupied.
A FACTivity is included with the article in the FACTivity tab below and as a separate pdf in the Activities tab.
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In this FACTivity, you will learn how to improve your observation skills and think about how scientists use observation. In order to learn about trout habitat, the scientists in this...FACTivity – Big Fish in a Small Pool
In this FACTivity, you will learn how to improve your observation skills and think about how scientists use observation. In order to learn about trout habitat, the scientists in this... -
After reading “Big Fish in a Small Pool,” test your understanding with a word search.Word Search – Big Fish in a Small Pool
After reading “Big Fish in a Small Pool,” test your understanding with a word search.
Glossary
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Michael Young
I like being a scientist because I am fascinated by the natural world. I enjoy the process of discovery, and I want to make sure we conserve wild creatures and...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Social Studies Standards
- People, Places, and Environments
Note To Educators
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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.
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Education Files
In this FACTivity, you will learn how to improve your observation skills and think about how scientists use observation.
In order to learn about trout habitat, the scientists in this study had to learn how to carefully observe and record their observations. You will do the same. Bring a natural object for observation, such as a stick, rock, or a leaf to class. Place the item on your desk in front of you. Just sit and observe the item.
- What color is it?
- Is it the same color all over?
- What shape is it?
- What else can you observe about the item?
Write down everything you observe about the item. Use the chart below as a sample. You may have many more than five observations!
After you have finished observing your own item, choose a partner to exchange your item with. Repeat your observation using your partner’s item. Compare your observations with those of your partner.
- How are they similar?
- How are they different?
- What does this tell you about observation?
Have a class discussion about how observations of the same item can be similar and different. Why do you think observations of the same item may be different for different people?
