PROCESS

** **Your Mission ** You are a scientist investigating ways to preserve biodiversity and prevent species extinction. Your first task is to [|Create a map]   that shows where some endangered species live around the world. Briefing ** As you know, biodiversity is both a measure of the variety of life and an indicator of the overall health of our planet. Preserving endangered species is considered by many scientists to be the key to preserving biodiversity, or the variety of life. Extinction is a part of nature however species are becoming extinct at a rate many times faster than ever before. Roughly 10,000 to 25,000 species are disappearing each year, dozens per day! The current endangered species and extinction crisis is unique, in that the loss of biodiversity is occurring very rapidly, and the causes of the crisis are the activities of a single species: human beings.   As part of your last mission you investigated why it matters to humans that other life forms are disappearing. **Last mission** **findings**: Human populations depend on plants and animals for much of their food, medicines, clothing, and shelter. Intact //ecosystems // perform vital functions, like purifying the air, filtering harmful substances out of water, turning decayed matter into nutrients, preventing erosion and flooding, and moderating climate. It is not known how many species can be eliminated from an ecosystem without its functioning being impaired.    ** Young Expeditioner, today it is imperative that you explore the ** <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU;">[|Wild World]  <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> **<span style="font-size: 130%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">maps before creating your own. ** Join forces with four other colleges and use the following sites to learn more about the endangered animals (Tiger, Elephant, Bison, Cheetah and Camel). <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">As a group, concentrate on one animal at a time looking closely at its appearance, habitat, and then diet. Figure out where each of the species lives in the wild? Study their pictures to learn more about them, and then guess which areas on the map you think that animal lives. You will discover more about each animal's habitat and diet, once you have found its home. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span style="font-size: 14.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">**Bagheera: In the wild** http://www.bagheera.com/inthewild/classroom.htm <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> **<span style="font-size: 14.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">CITES species database **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-AU;">[|**http://www.iucnredlist.org**] <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
 * <span style="font-size: 18pt; color: #8c0303; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">MISSION 1
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #984806; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">
 * <span style="font-size: 14.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">The Fish and Wildlife Service **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">[|**http://endangered.fws.gov**]
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Biodiversity Hot Spots ** http://www.biodiversityhotspots.org/Pages/default.aspx

<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Record your findings in a form of a mind map (using Inspiration). **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As you know, <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Mind mapping involves writing down a central idea and thinking up new and related ideas which radiate out from the centre.

**<span style="font-size: 18pt; color: #8c0303; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">MISSION 2 ** <span style="font-size: 18pt; color: #8c0303; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">As a scientist, you have been assigned on the Crittercam team! Follow the movements of an animal fitted with a Crittercam and record what happens, where it goes and what it sees. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">. They capture video, sound, and other information, giving rare views of the private lives of animals. By allowing us this animal’s-eye view, Crittercams help to solve scientific mysteries. What we learn from Crittercams helps us protect the very animals that wear them. The video footage that Crittercam captures gives scientists never-before-seen glimpses into animal behaviour, feeding practices, and much more.
 * <span style="font-size: 13pt; color: #8c0303; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Your Mission **<span style="font-size: 13pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #984806; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-themecolor: accent6; mso-themeshade: 128;">Briefing **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Which animal are you tracking today: **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> a [|leopard seal in the Antarctic], a <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">[|sperm whale in the deep sea] <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, or a <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">[|bearded seal in the Arctic] <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">? Follow your animal, noting all the other animals it encounters and the different environments it enters.

In your groups of three, **add to your (Inspiration) concept map**. Label the plants and animals that your animal (Leopard seal, Sperm whale, Bearded seal) would see. Make sure to include all the different environments it may need (land, water, ice, etc.). Be ready to share your discovery with the entire team.


 * <span style="font-size: 18pt; color: #8c0303; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">MISSION 3 **

=<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Conservation Actions = <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">There are many ways conservation biologists are addressing the extinction crisis. These include:
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #8c0303; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Your Mission **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Young Expeditioner **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">, explore two of the following conservation actions in your team. Use the web links provided to help with your investigation. Do not lose your focus; build up your ammunition, your main mission is yet to be revealed!

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> One world many democracies **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">[|http://www.abc.net.au/civics/oneworld/resources.htm#environment] **<span style="font-size: 14.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> The Environment Directory **__ <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #0000ff; font-family: Calibri; text-decoration: none; msospacerun: yes; textunderline: none;"> <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">http://www.webdirectory.com/   __ <span style="font-size: 14.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
 * <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Establishing protected areas where wildlife habitat is preserved or restored;
 * <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Developing new ways to farm, log, and graze livestock, that preserve habitat values;
 * <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Educating citizens about the importance of conserving wildlife and things they can do to help wildlife and the environment in general;
 * <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Encouraging changes in production and consumption that foster resource conservation and reduce waste and pollution, through legal or economic incentives;
 * <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enacting and enforcing laws and international treaties that regulate exploitation of wildlife and wildlife trade;
 * <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Establishing captive breeding programs for species whose populations have been so depleted that they need human help to increase their numbers and genetic diversity;
 * <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Providing alternatives to local people who are dependent on wildlife and forests for food and fuel;
 * <span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Encouraging family planning to reduce human population growth.
 * <span style="font-size: 14.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">ThinkQuest **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> http://library.thinkquest.org/25014/how/index.html **<span style="font-size: 14.5pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Add your findings to your Inspiration mind map. **


 * <span style="font-size: 18pt; color: #8c0303; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">MISSION 4 **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #8c0303; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Your FINAL Mission **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Congratulations Young Scientist **<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> you have successfully arrived at the core of your ongoing investigations! Create a Wiki using your knowledge with Web Quest. Post the information you've gathered over the 3 weeks in a creative and constructive manner. This is an ideal way to share with the world, your findings and its imperative nature. You prior knowledge and the following links will assist you in this task. Good luck! The world is your oyster.

Link Up http://www.abc.net.au/children/linkup/aussielinkup/tips/default.htm Web Quest http://webquest.sdsu.edu/designsteps/index.html

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