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  • Fill Those Potholes! Identifying Ecosystem Services of Small Wetlands on the American Prairie
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Fill Those Potholes! Identifying Ecosystem Services of Small Wetlands on the American Prairie

  • Article
  • Middle School
  • 1 Classroom Period
  • Agriculture
  • Carbon
  • Water
  • Wilderness
  • Wildlife
  • Biodiversity
  • Carbon Storage
  • Climate Change
  • Erosion
  • Flooding
  • Habitat
  • Natural Resources
  • Prairie Potholes
  • Restoration
Cover of "Fill Those Potholes" featuring a blue and green graphic of plants and birds
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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

Part Of

Ecosystem Services - Vol. 12 No. 1

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  • 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

    • Activity
    • Middle School
    • 1 Classroom Period
    • Wilderness
    • Wildlife
    • Biodiversity
    • Carbon Storage
    • Ecosystem Services
    • Erosion
    • Flooding
    • Habitat
    • Natural Resources
    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...
    • Explore Activity
    • Download FACTivity (PDF)
    • Explore Activity
    • Download FACTivity (PDF)

    Part Of

    Fill Those Potholes! Identifying Ecosystem Services of Small Wetlands on the American Prairie

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Glossary

View All Glossary
  • agency

    (ā jən(t) sē): A part of a government that manages projects in a certain area.

  • aquatic

    (ǝ kwä tik): Growing or living in or often found in water.

  • breeding habitat

    (brē diŋ ha bə tat): Environment where an animal nests and reproduces as opposed to where it lives during the rest of the year.

  • conservation

    (kän(t) sər vā shən): A careful preservation and protection of something, especially planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect.

  • economic

    (ek ǝ nä mik): Of, relating to, or based on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

  • ecosystem

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

  • erosion

    (i rō zhǝn): The process of deteriorating or disappearing by wearing away.

  • habitat

    (ha bә tat): The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows.

  • management

    (ma nij mǝnt): The conducting or supervising of something.

  • migratory

    (mī grǝ tȯr ē): Of, relating to, or characterized by moving, usually periodically, from one region or climate to another for feeding or breeding.

  • natural resource

    (na ch(ǝ) rǝl rē sȯrs): A feature or phenomenon in nature that enhances the quality of human life.

  • nutrient

    (nü trē ǝnt): A substance or ingredient that promotes growth, provides energy, and maintains life.

  • policy

    (pä lə sē): A course of action chosen in order to guide people in making decisions.

  • prairie

    (prer ē): A large area of level or rolling grassland.

  • restore

    (ri stȯr): To bring back to or put back into a former or original state.

  • species

    (spē sēz or spē shēz): A category of living things that ranks below a genus, is made up of related individuals able to produce fertile offspring, and is identified by a two-part scientific name.

  • sustain

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

  • variable

    (ver ē ə bəl): (1) A factor, trait, or condition that can be changed or controlled; (2) a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values.

  • waterfowl

    (wȯ tər fau̇(-ə)l): A bird that is found in or near water.

  • wetlands

    (wet landz): Land or areas (such as marshes or swamps) that are covered, often intermittently, with shallow water or have soil saturated with moisture.

  • Dr. Chip Euliss standing in a field

    Chip Euliss

    Biological Science | Wildlife Biologist

    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
  • Dr. Robert Gleason paragliding with his child.

    Robert Gleason

    Biological Science | Wildlife Biologist

    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
  • Mr. Murray Laubhan standing with colleagues in the field

    Murray Laubhan

    Ecology

    My favorite science experience is learning something new that helps land managers successfully restore wetlands.
    View Profile
  • Brian Tangen standing in waist deep water

    Brian Tangen

    Biological Science

    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

Jump To

  • Education Standards
  • Educator Guide
  • Lesson Plans
  • Education Files

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.
  • 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.

USDA and Forest Service Logos

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.

Natural Inquirer bee sitting at a desk with paper and pencil

  • 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

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  • Method

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  • Findings & Discussion

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  • Reflection Section

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  • 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.


We Welcome Feedback

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    Jessica Nickelsen
    Director, Natural Inquirer program

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    Contact us here.

Lessons

  • 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

    • Lesson Plan
    • Middle School
    • 2-3 Classroom Periods
    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...
    • Explore Lesson Plan
    • Download Lesson Plan (PDF)
    • Explore Lesson Plan
    • Download Lesson Plan (PDF)

    Part Of

    Ecosystem Services - Vol. 12 No. 1

Education Files

Jump To

  • Additional Resources

Additional Resources

  • Scientific American Podcast: Why Ecosystem Services Matter

    Clean water and air, pollination, fish in the oceans, storm protection, these are just a few of the benefits the natural world provides. And scientists looking to preserve those benefits have a name for them: ecosystem services.

    Listen to Podcast
  • Ecological Society of America: Ecosystem Services

    Ecosystem Services are the processes by which the environment produces resources that we often take for granted such as clean water, timber, and habitat for fisheries, and pollination of native and agricultural plants. Whether we find ourselves in the city or a rural area, the ecosystems in which humans live provide goods and services that are very familiar to us.

    View Website
  • USDA Forest Service: Ecosystem Services

    When our forests are undervalued they are increasingly susceptible to development pressures and conversion. Recognizing forest ecosystems as natural assets with economic and social value can help promote conservation and more responsible decision-making.

    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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