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  • Caribbean Cruise: Examining the Movement and Quality of Organic Matter Over Time From Two Caribbean Watersheds
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Caribbean Cruise: Examining the Movement and Quality of Organic Matter Over Time From Two Caribbean Watersheds

  • Article
  • Middle School
  • 1 Classroom Period
  • Water
  • Wilderness
  • Biodiversity
  • Data Trends
  • Hurricane
  • Particulate Organic Matter
  • Tropical Forest
  • Watershed
Caribbean Cruise cover for the article. The main image is of a stream bed.
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Particulate organic matter (POM), which consists of small pieces of twigs, leaves, soil, and other items found in the water, is an important component of an ecosystem and the food web. In this study, the scientists wanted to study a certain type of POM called coarse particulate organic matter, or CPOM. The scientists wanted to figure out how the amount and quality of CPOM changed over a period of time in the Luquillo Experimental Forest.

 

Caribbean Cruise: Examining the Movement and Quality of Organic Matter Over Time From Two Caribbean Watersheds

Part Of

Freshwater - Vol. 18 No. 1

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  • The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: What can you learn from data about gage height and streamflow for a stream for an extended period of time? You...

    FACTivity – Caribbean Cruise

    • Activity
    • Middle School
    • 1 Classroom Period
    • Water
    • Comparing Data
    • Graphing
    • Reading Charts
    • Rivers and Streams
    • Streamflow
    The question you will answer in this FACTivity is: What can you learn from data about gage height and streamflow for a stream for an extended period of time? You...
    Explore Activity Download FACTivity (PDF)
    Explore Activity Download FACTivity (PDF)

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    Caribbean Cruise: Examining the Movement and Quality of Organic Matter Over Time From Two Caribbean Watersheds

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Glossary

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  • analysis

    (ǝ na lǝ sǝs): An examination of a whole to discover its elements and their relations.

  • biodiversity

    (bī ō dǝ vǝr sǝ tē ): Biological variety in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals.

  • bryophyte

    (brī ə fīt): Any of a division (Bryophyta) of nonflowering plants comprising the mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.

  • coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM)

    (kȯrs pär ti kyə lət ȯr ga nik ma tər): Organic material that falls into or is carried into a river. CPOM is generally greater than 1 millimeter (mm) in size. Examples of CPOM are leaves, sticks, and other pieces of plant material.

  • decay

    (di kā): To break down, rot, or undergo decomposition.

  • decomposition

    (dē käm pə zi shən): The act or process of breaking up, such as by decaying or rotting.

  • dominate

    (dä mə nāt): To have a commanding position or controlling power over.

  • drainage

    (drā nij): (1) The act or process of draining something; (2) an area or district drained.

  • ecosystem

    (ē kō sis tǝm): A system made up of an ecological community of living things interacting with their environment especially under natural conditions.

  • export

    (ek spȯrt): To carry away.

  • fauna

    (fȯ nə): Animal life, especially the animals characteristic of a region, period, or special environment.

  • frequency

    (frē kwən(t) sē): (1) How often something happens; (2) the number of repetitions of a periodic process in a unit of time.

  • obscure

    (äb skyu̇r): Not clearly seen or easily distinguished.

  • organic

    (ȯr ga nik): Of, relating to, or obtained from living things.

  • pesticide

    (pes tə sīd): A substance that is used to kill animals or insects that are harmful to humans or human activities (like agriculture).

  • statistical

    (stə ti sti kəl): Of, relating to, based on, or employing the principles of statistics.

  • sustain

    (sǝ stān): (1) To give support or relief to; (2) to keep up.

  • trend

    (trend): The general movement over time of a statistically detectable change.

  • Photo of Dr. Tamara Heartsill Scalley standing in front of a waterfall.

    Tamara Heartsill Scalley

    Ecologist

    One of my favorite experiences was sampling for aquatic fauna in the headwater streams at the highest elevations of the Luquillo Experimental Forest. The Elfin Cloud Forests have many small...
    View Profile
  • Photo of Dr. Samuel Moya installing new scientific equipment and sensors at an experimental site.

    Samuel Moya

    Biologist

    My favorite science experience is installing new scientific equipment and sensors on experimental sites. New sensors allow me to see more accurate results using graphics and statistical methods.
    View Profile
  • A photo of Dr. Ariel Lugo and a group of people hiking along a river.

    Ariel Lugo

    Tropical Ecologist

    “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

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  • Education Standards
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Standards addressed in this Article:

Social Studies Standards

Social Studies Standards are educational guidelines outlining the essential knowledge, skills, and concepts students should learn in subjects such as history, geography, civics, and economics, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of societal structures, historical events, and global perspectives.
  • Culture
  • Global Connections
  • Individual Development and Identity
  • 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.

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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.

  • What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?

    Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.

  • Thinking About Science

    Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.

  • Thinking About the Environment

    Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.

  • Introduction

    Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.

  • Method

    Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.

  • Findings & Discussion

    Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.

  • 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.

  • Number Crunches

    Presents an easy math problem related to the research.

  • Glossary

    Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.

  • Citation

    Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.

  • 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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Lessons

  • In this lesson, students will create a storyboard to graphically represent the main points from the research article they read. This can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.

    Lesson Plan – Storyboard (Freshwater)

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    • Story Telling
    In this lesson, students will create a storyboard to graphically represent the main points from the research article they read. This can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.
    Explore Lesson Plan Download Lesson Plan (PDF)
    Explore Lesson Plan Download Lesson Plan (PDF)

    Part Of

    Freshwater - Vol. 18 No. 1

Education Files

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  • Additional Resources

Additional Resources

  • USDA Forest Service: International Institute of Tropical Forestry

    Learn more about the research at IITF. Today, the Institute continues to build upon traditional research strengths, with research focused on forest ecology, disturbance ecology, ecosystem functions and services, urban ecology, watershed dynamics, migratory species, climate change, and policy science to better understand the effects of natural and human-induced pressures on tropical forests and the landscapes in which they are found.

    Visit Website
  • USDA Forest Service: El Yunque National Forest

    Located in Puerto Rico’s Northeast Region, El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the national forest system. At nearly 29,000 acres, it is one of the smallest in size, yet one of the most biologically diverse. Come experience the breathtaking scenery, clear mountain rivers, and outdoor recreation opportunities ye

    Visit Website
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The Natural Inquirer program produces a variety of science education materials for PreK through grade 12. Natural Inquirer products are produced by the USDA Forest Service, FIND Outdoors, and other cooperators and partners.

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