Alaska's Wetlands and Wildlife

293 Pages·2017·8.43 MB·English

TeachBearc kgroIunnfdo rmation,
IllustraantdRi eosnosu,r ces,
StudeAnctt iviatnidIe nsv estigation
CORRELATTOET DH ESTAT E STANDARDS ANSD NGS
@
_______ _ _ __A _l_sa_k_a_De_prt_am__e_n_t_ _o_f_F_i_hsa__ndG__a_me__ _____ _ _ __ _
\�

Alaska’s Wetlands and Wildlife
Editor and Project Coordinator:
Lilly Goodman
Project Managers
Cathy Rezabeck and Kristen Romanoff
Writers:
Lilly Goodman, Marilyn Sigman, and Susan Jordan
Contributors:
Heather Dean, Tom Rothe
Reviewers:
Edward Berg, Heather Dean, Laurel Devaney, Maureen DeZeeuw,
Staci Griffin, Elizabeth Manning, Robert Piorkowski, Anne Post, Kristen Romanoff,
Mike Taras, Matt Weaver.
Layout:
Classic Design: Chris Vasileff
Illustration and graphics:
Debra Dubac, Conrad Field, Fineline Graphics, Katherine Hocker, Susan Quinlan,
Susan Steinacher and Garry Utermohle. Wetland maps for the activity Wetland Exchange were
provided by David Mitchell at the Great Land Trust and extensive scanning of illustrations was
completed by Ron Laubenstein, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bibliography and Correlation to Educational State Standards:
Lilly Goodman
This revision of Alaska’s Wetlands and Wildlife was funded in part by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Challenge Cost Share Program. These funds were matched by contributions from
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The Alaska Wildlife Curriculum is a resource for educators teaching today’s youth about
Alaska’s wildlife. This volume is dedicated to today’s teachers and youth, building leaders
for tomorrow.
Copyright 2007, Updated 2017
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Division of Wildlife Conservation
ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2017 1
Alaska’s Wetlands and Wildlife Other Alaska Wildlife Curriculum materials

include:
was first created in 1992. The original materials
Alaska’s Forests and Wildlife
involved the hard work of many individuals,
Alaska’s Ecology
including Marilyn Sigman, Susan Jordan, Susan
Alaska’s Tundra and Wildlife
Quinlan, Janet Ady, Beverly Farfan, Colleen
Wildlife for the Future
Matt, Karen McKibbin, Cathy Rezabeck,
Alaska’s Ecology Cards
Connie Allen, Rick Turner and Fineline
Graphics.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game
has additional information and materials
Susan Quinlan wrote, illustrated, and produced
on wildlife conservation education. The
the original Alaska Wildlife Week materials
Alaska Wildlife Curriculum is revised
on this topic, while Janet Ady and Beverly
periodically. For information, or to provide
Farfan coordinated inclusion of activities from
comments on this book, please contact the
the Teach About Geese curriculum. Other
Alaska Department of Fish and Game:
contributors to the original curriculum included
Jay Bellinger, Norene Blair, Steve Breeser,
Division of Wildlife Conservation
Nancy Byers, Ellen Campbell, Mark Chase,
Attention: Wildlife Education and Outreach
Max Copenhagen, Tom Demeo, Sandy Frost,
333 Raspberry Road
Dan Gibson, Amy Keston, Paul Marks, Norm
Anchorage, AK 99518
Matson, Russ Meserole, Pam Nelson, Bety
Phone [phone]
Olivalo, Janet Schempf, Reva Shircel, Candace
E-mail: [email protected]
Ward, Cathy Rezabeck and Steve Young.
or visit our website:
This 2007 revision includes many of the
http://adfg.alaska.gov
activities, background information and artwork
from the original curriculum.
Heartfelt gratitude goes to Robin Dublin, whose
long-lasting dedication to wildlife education has
been a critical component of this project.
The State of Alaska is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Contact the Division of Wildlife Conservation at
[phone] for alternative formats of this publication.
2 ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2017
Alaska’s Wetlands and Wildlife
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How to Use This Curriculum ..............................................................................................................6
Wetlands at a Glance ...........................................................................................................................9
Wetland Insights ................................................................................................................................11
Section 1 Wetland Ecosystems ....................................................................................................13
Fact Sheet: What is a Wetland? ...............................................................................................13
Fact Sheet: Profiles of Alaska’s Wetlands ..................................................................................15
Coastal Wetlands ..............................................................................................................17
Peatlands ..........................................................................................................................19
Riparian Wetlands ............................................................................................................23
Freshwater Marshes ..........................................................................................................25
Tundra Wetlands ..............................................................................................................27
Fact Sheet: Wetland Ecosystem Functions ...............................................................................28
Fact Sheet: Wetland Soils ........................................................................................................30
Fact Sheet: In-stream Flow ......................................................................................................31
Fact Sheet: The Water Cycle ....................................................................................................32
Fact Sheet: Marine-derived Nutrients .....................................................................................33
Section 2 Wetland Inhabitants ....................................................................................................35
Fact Sheet: Alaska’s Waterbirds and Wetlands ..........................................................................35
Fact Sheet: Other Birds and Wetlands. ....................................................................................38
Fact Sheet: Mammals and Wetlands ........................................................................................39
Fact Sheet: Fishes Use of Wetlands ..........................................................................................40
Fact Sheet: Amphibians In Alaska ...........................................................................................41
Fact Sheet: Aquatic Invertebrates ............................................................................................44
Fact Sheet: Summary of Animal Adaptations for Wetlands Living...........................................45
Fact Sheet: Wetland Plants ......................................................................................................54
Section 3. Wetlands In A Changing World .................................................................................55
Fact Sheet: Historical Perspective ............................................................................................55
Fact Sheet: Wetland Pollution and Contaminants ...................................................................57
Fact Sheet: Climate Change and Wetlands ..............................................................................62
Fact Sheet: Invasive Species and Wetlands ...............................................................................64
Fact Sheet: Disturbance of Wetlands .......................................................................................67
Section 4. Wetland Policy and Management ..............................................................................69
Fact Sheet: The Players in Wetland Policy and Management ...................................................69
Fact Sheet: Wetland Regulations .............................................................................................73
Fact Sheet: Important Migratory Bird Regulations ..................................................................75
Fact Sheet: Migratory Bird Management ................................................................................76
Fact Sheet: Developing Alaska: A Wetlands Challenge ............................................................77
Fact Sheet: New Strategies in Wetlands Development and Conservation ................................78
Wetland Activities ..............................................................................................................................81
Section 1. What is a Wetland? .....................................................................................................83
Water Cycle Discovery ............................................................................................................83
Water Wonders .......................................................................................................................85
Tools: Water Cycle Stations Sheet .....................................................................................88
Tools: Water Cycle Score Card .........................................................................................90
ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2017 3
Alaska’s Wetlands and Wildlife
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Water Logged Worlds .............................................................................................................91
Tools: Waterlogged Worlds Student Fact Sheets ................................................................93
Tools: Wetland Visual Vocabulary Cards ..........................................................................96
Wetland Model .......................................................................................................................97
Soaker Tester .........................................................................................................................100
Worksheet: Soaker Tester Data Sheet ..............................................................................102
Wetland Metaphors ..............................................................................................................103
Story: Dream Journey .....................................................................................................105
Locating Local Wetlands .......................................................................................................107
Worksheet: Locating Local Wetlands .............................................................................110
Section 2. Wetland Ecology .......................................................................................................111
I’m not Mean, Just Hungry! ..................................................................................................111
Tools: Food Chain Cards ................................................................................................113
Energy Flow in an Alaska Wetland ........................................................................................117
Wetland Ecology Puzzlers ....................................................................................................124
Dammed Ponds ..............................................................................................................125
Mummies in the Bogs ....................................................................................................126
Chowing Down in a Wetland .........................................................................................127
Section 3. Wetland Inhabitants .................................................................................................130
Are you Me? .........................................................................................................................130
Mystery Creature ..................................................................................................................135
Wildlife Language .................................................................................................................137
Green Gobblers ....................................................................................................................140
Cycle of Life .........................................................................................................................142
Tools: Wood Frog Life Stages Cards ...............................................................................145
Swimmers and Hoppers ........................................................................................................146
Slimy Skin ............................................................................................................................150
Birds Now or Later ...............................................................................................................152
Migration Headache .............................................................................................................154
Migration Cycles ..................................................................................................................158
Migratory Mapping ..............................................................................................................162
Tools: Goose Reports ......................................................................................................167
Fowl Play ..............................................................................................................................171
Tools: Student Research Page ..........................................................................................174
Tools: Student Puzzle Information Sheets .......................................................................175
Tools: Data Cards for Survey Envelopes .........................................................................178
Tools: Solutions to Fowl Play Puzzles for Teachers ..........................................................181
Section 4. Outdoor Wetland Investigations ..............................................................................183
Overview ..............................................................................................................................183
Who’s in the Water? ..............................................................................................................185
Aquatic Invertebrate Cards .............................................................................................188
Investigating Wetland Soils ...................................................................................................189
Worksheet: Soil Texture by Feel ......................................................................................191
Worksheet: Soil Texture by Volume ................................................................................192
Tools: Soil Texture Triangle .............................................................................................193
4 ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2017
Alaska’s Wetlands and Wildlife
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How Fast is the Stream? ........................................................................................................194
Meet a Plant .........................................................................................................................197
Tracks in the Mud ................................................................................................................199
Wetland Fish ........................................................................................................................201
Wetland Plants .....................................................................................................................203
Sphagnum Moss ...................................................................................................................205
Stick Race .............................................................................................................................207
Wetland Sounds ...................................................................................................................209
Wetland Birds .......................................................................................................................211
Wetland Animal Signs ..........................................................................................................213
Who Has Six Legs? ...............................................................................................................215
Rate a Wetland .....................................................................................................................217
Wetland Evaluation Worksheet .......................................................................................220
Hydrology Worksheet .....................................................................................................221
Water Quality Worksheet ...............................................................................................222
Human Uses Worksheet .................................................................................................223
Bird Study Wildlife Habitat Worksheet ..........................................................................224
Plant Study / Wildlife Habitat Worksheet ......................................................................225
Mammal Study Worksheet .............................................................................................226
Section 5. Wetlands in a Changing World ................................................................................227
Humans and Wildlife ...........................................................................................................227
Stamps for Birds ...................................................................................................................229
Traditional Wetland Plant Use ..............................................................................................231
Deadly Waters ......................................................................................................................235
Tools: Pollutant Information Cards ................................................................................238
Changing World Ecology Puzzlers ........................................................................................247
Bald Eagles and Waterfowl .............................................................................................248
Five-Legged Frogs ...........................................................................................................250
Expanding Forests ..........................................................................................................252
Invasions Relations ...............................................................................................................254
Section 6. Wetlands Policy and Management ...........................................................................259
Wetland Exchange ................................................................................................................259
Tools: Wetlands Evaluation Worksheet ...........................................................................262
Tools: Wetland Property Aerial Maps with polygons .......................................................263
Tools: Wetland Property Aerial Maps without polygons (for extension) ..........................266
Decision Dilemmas ..............................................................................................................269
Tools: Dilemma Cards ....................................................................................................272
Can Do! Wetlands ................................................................................................................275
Wetland Appendices ........................................................................................................................277
Glossary ......................................................................................................................................279
Curriculum Connections: Full Citations .....................................................................................283
Additional Resources ...................................................................................................................286
Cross Reference by Grade ...........................................................................................................290
ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2017 5
How to use this curriculum
WETLANDS at a GLANCE
What is a wetland?
General Overview
Wetlands are lowlands that are covered with shallow water or have saturated
soil, for at least part of the year. Wetlands include marshes, swamps, bogs,
wet meadows, potholes, sloughs and river over-flow lands. Shallow lakes and
ponds, especially if they have emergent plants, are also considered to be
wetlands, but streams, reservoirs, and deep lakes generally are not included
in the definition.
Wetlands are complex ecosystems, comprising both non-living things such as
soil, water and air, andW living tEhingTs sucLh as AbacteNria, fuDngi, pl an tsI anNd aniSmalsI GHTS
in a web of energy flow and material exchange.
How are wetlands uniquspee?cific backgrouWnetdla inndfso hramvea ottihoenr itmop hoertlapn ty fuonuc ttieoansc,h p rtohvied isntgu dent activities
valuable ecosystem services such as flood control
The combination of hydrology, soil properties and and groundwater recharge.
tgyepneesr aolfl yli vuinnigq oureg taon iwsmetsla innd as w:etland ecosystem are What types oSf ewcteiotnla 1nds Background
are in Alaska?
• Plants that cannot survive flooding are rarely WETLAND ECOSYSTEMS Information
found in wetlands. Wetland plants and animals Wetlands come in a range of sizes and types and
have adaptations that allow them to live in wet have been classified many different ways. In this
conditions. curriculum, we refer to five broad classifications:
coastal wetlands, freshwater marshes, riparian
• Wetlands contain either fresh or salt water during (streamside) wetlands, peatlands, and tundra
some or all of the growing season, although it wetlands. Within eaSche octf itohens e2 broad classifications,
may not be visible. there areW diEffTerLeAnt NhaDbi tIaNt HtypAesB.ITANTS
• Soil in wetlands is waterlogged or saturated. As Who uses Alaska’s wetlands?
a result, the upper part of the soils is usually
anaerobic.
Alaska’s wetlands are important habitat to a diverse
The unique conditions in wetlands also provide array Wof wildlifEe fromST weocotLdio fnro g3As, to cNommonD shrew s, ACTIVITIES
iwmetplaonrtdasn at reh aablsiota itm tpoo rwtaantet rsbtoirpd so.v Mera sniyte As laamskida Wbtola EmcTkig LbraeAtairNnsg Da bniSrdd lsIoN, own hAsi.c hAC lraHeslykA ao’Nns wwGeeIttNllaannGdd ssW faorreO h caRrbitLiitcDaatl.
the long migration between breeding and wintering These birds include 37 species of waterfowl, including
areas. 30 different duck populations. Alaska wetlands are
the primary breeding grounds for 80 percent of the
ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2007 9
Section 4 Section 1
WETLAND POLICY AND MANWAHGAETM IESN AT WETLAND?
Activities
Section 2
WETLAND ECOLOGY
Section 3
WETLAND INHABITANTS
ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2007 11
Section 4
OUTDOOR WETLAND INVESTIGATIONS
Section 5
WETLANDS IN A CHANGING WORLD
Section 1
Section 6 Wetland Activities
WETLANDS POLICY AND MANAGEMENTWHAT IS A WETLAND?
Grade Level: K - 6 Student Activity
State Standards: Art A-1;
Geography C-1; Science
boxes provide a
B-2.
Subjects: science, language
arts quick planning
Skills: observing, inferring,
ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2007 81 predicting, drawing,
writing reference
Duration: one to two class
sessions
Group Size: whole class,
small groups
Setting: schoolyard,
classroom
Vocabulary: evaporation,
vapor, condensation,
precipitation, transpiration
6 ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2017
How to use this curriculum
CONTINUED
Support materials
for lesson planning.
195. SNOWY OWL T,W
Alaska Ecology Cards – Student-directed learning resources in ready-to-copy Ttarloaintss;: lLaargrgee f,o wrwhaitred b-fiarcdi nwgi tehy eas ;s hbarropaldy whoinogkse dan bdi ll;
sheets applicable to all books in the Alaska Wildlife Curriculum. tail; only all-white owl; they have varied amounts of
black speckling. Nests on the ground.
Several lessons require or may be improved by use of the Alaska Ecology Cards. Download Habitat: Coastal lowland tundra
Foods: Lemmings and other small mammals (voles,
from ADF&G website at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=curricula.main shrews, ground squirrels, hares, weasels)
E aten by: Foxes eat young.
For more animal facts, refer to the Alaska Wildlife Notebook Series available Do you know these animals have been traced as far outh
at www.wildlife.alaska.gov/ as the southern United States and Bermuda?
ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2017 7
8 ALASKA’S WETLANDS AND WILDLIFE 2017