discovery bay shark reef wonders of the deep...pacific shores 5.3.1.2.2 explain how slow processes,...

The purpose of this trail guide is to give you and your adult chaperones some

guidance on the main Zoo trails. These suggested questions aim to support

the MN Academic Standards in Science.

at these locations and ask the students these thought questions.

Sometime the answers are provided on the graphics. Please use

as you see fit.

Discovery Bay Shark Reef

5.4.4.1.1 Humans change environments in ways

that can be either beneficial or harmful to

themselves or other organisms.

Look for our 2 sea turtles in the Shark Reef. They do like

to spend time at the surface or sleeping under rocks.

Question: Why do humans hunt sea turtles? Is this beneficial or

harmful?

Response: Sea turtles are hunted for their hides and shells. They are

used for many things, hides for leather boots, hand bags, and wallets

and shells for jewelry.

This currently is harmful because sea turtle populations are low.

Minnesota Zoo sea turtle story: (human impact) Both turtles, a Green turtle and a Kemps Ridley turtle, were hit by boats and suffered significant injuries. Neither were able to recover from their injuries and aren't able to be released back into the wild.

Wonders of the Deep

5.3.4.1.3 Compare the impact of individual

decisions on natural systems.

Look at this marine debris display. Is there an item in there

that you use?

Question: What can you do to ensure it doesn’t end up as marine

debris? Is there an alternative to that product that creates a lesser

impact?

Response: Students answers will vary. Garbage harms organisms. It

decreases or eliminates food sources because many resemble what

organisms eat . It is often eaten thus harming or killing the animal.

Garbage also gets caught around the animal making it vulnerable to

predators or creating wounds so critical it can’t survive.

The Vanishing Act!

Tossing garbage in the trash doesn’t make it ‘disappear’? It takes time for it to break down and completely disappear. Your cereal boxes and milk cartons take just months. Many plastics take over 400 years to naturally disappear. Glass and jars we don’t know. Recycling or reusing those items

are the best way to go.

Discovery Bay

Living Reef

5.4.2.1. Natural systems have many

components that interact to maintain

the living system.






as you see fit.

Discovery Bay

Look at this live coral display for about 5 minutes. Count the

number of different organisms you see.

Question: What sort of interactions do you see among these

organisms?

Response: Answers will vary. There are many different species of corals,

fish, sea urchins, shrimp, snails, etc. in this tank. Reefs provide the essen-

tial needs for these animals like food and shelter.

The students may see organisms hiding among the rocks, cleaning bits off

the rocks, sand, or glass, eating, chasing, etc.

Reefs protect the environment! In addition to providing habitat, reefs create a barrier along the shores to prevent damaging waves and erosion. .

Clubhouse Cove

5.4.1.1.1 Describe how plant and animal

structures and their functions provide an

advantage for survival in a given natural

system.

Look for the ocean graphic in Clubhouse Cove.

Question: What percentage of the world’s water is drinkable? If all

living things need fresh water, how have some adapted to life in a

salt water environment?

Response: <1% is drinkable water. Many organisms have unique

features like unique kidneys, gills, special glands or roots to filter out the

salt in the water.

Ocean Planet! The ocean covers nearly 70% of the Earth's surface and plays a major role in weather and climate around the world. How is this possible?

Think about the water cycle.

Discovery Bay

Pacific Shores

5.3.1.2.2 Explain how slow processes, such

as water erosion, and rapid processes, such

as landslides and volcanic eruptions, form

features of the Earth’s surface.






as you see fit.

Russia’s Grizzly Coast

Look at the picture of the coastline in this graphic.

Question: How does interaction between volcanic activity and the

surrounding water help to create such a unique rocky coast line? Was

this a quick or slow process?

Response: The rock built up from volcanic eruptions creating the cliff-like

rocky landscape. The coastal waters, over longer periods of time, washed

over the rocks and coast wearing it down and giving it the jagged pointy look

it has today. It’s a result of the combination of quick (volcanic eruptions)

and slow (water erosion) processes.

Suited for bears and otters! The cliff-like landscape provides habitat for the brown bears while the cold ocean waters are perfect for the sea otters. Look for both animals

along the trail.

Mud Pot

4.2.3.1.1 Describe the transfer of heat

energy when a warm and a cool object

are touching or placed near each other.

Watch for some thermal features along the trail. (NOTE: these

are seasonal features)

Question: What is the heat source making mud boil or water and

steam rise from the earth?

Response: The heat comes from the Earth’s mantle and rises through

the cracks and crevices as it tries to escape. The high heat then raises

the temperature of ground water until it reaches a boiling point.

Depending on the amount of built up pressure from underground, water

either erupts as a liquid or a gas (steam). The mud is created when

water mixes with volcanic ash. The bubbles are due to the gases

escaping.

More temperate climate for all! All the volcanic action that goes on here helps to create a warmer

surface temperature allowing for more animals to adapt to this climate.

Russia’s Grizzly Coast

Conservation Cabin

5.1.3.2.1 Describe how science and

engineering influence and are influenced

by local traditions and beliefs.

Brown bears

5.4.1.1.1 Describe how plant and animal

structures and their functions provide an

advantage in a given natural system.






as you see fit.

Look around the brown bear exhibit. Take note of both living

and nonliving factors in their environment.

Question: What bear characteristics do you see that enable them to

live in this ecosystem?

Response: Long claws– digging and catching food. Large teeth

(canines)- eating large prey. Thick fur– keep warm and dry. Hump–

large muscle for power and strength. Fat– insulation (keep warm) and

energy for winter months when food is scarce.

Quick decline! Russia has more brown bears than any other place on earth but in the last 15 years their population numbers were reduced by half. Can you think of why?

Lightly touch the darker walls of the log cabin and close your

eyes. You are now physically connected the Russia Far East

as these logs came from that area.

Question: What steps are scientists taking to ensure the protection

of animals in a certain region of the world?

Response: Learning about the animal, Involving the community, Saving

the land, food source, and the animal, and Restoring the animal by

bringing them home.

You can help too! Learn about the animals in your area, get involved in community organizations, save the outdoors by being responsible users, and restore

by planting habitat, like a tree or garden.

Russia’s Grizzly Coast Russia’s Grizzly Coast

Fig Community

5.4.2.1.2 Explain what would happen to a

system, such as a wetland, prairie or

garden, if one of its parts were changed.

Tortoise Sculpture

5.4.4.1.1 Give examples of beneficial and

harmful human interaction with natural

systems.






as you see fit.

Go ahead and sit on this replication of the Giant tortoise.

Question: What two characteristics made this animal an easy target for poachers which eventually led to its extinction?

(can look at the Radiated tortoise across the path for comparison)

Response: Its large size and slow movements made this tortoise an easy

target for hunting. An animal of this size could easily feed a village.

Land of the Giants! By the 1800’s, no native mammal or bird over 25 lbs. survived on

Madagascar. Wonder why?

Look at the animals associated with the fig tree.

Question: This community depends on each other for survival.

Think of the roles each of them have. What would happen to this

community if the bats disappeared?

Response: The fig seeds would not be planted in far away and different

locations which is essential to creating new areas and expanding the

forest.

Help the ‘Fig’ Forest! Get involved by simply donating your used cell phone. Recycling the metals used in cell phones eliminates the need to dig for them in the

rainforests which destroys the forest community.

Tropics Trail Tropics Trail

Creatures beneath the Canopy

4.1.2.2.1 Identify and investigate a design solution

and describe how it was used to solve an everyday

problem.

Tropical Reef

4.1.2.1.1 Describe the positive and negative

impacts that the designed world has on the natural

world as more and more engineered products and

services are created and used.

5.3.4.1.3 Compare the impact of individual

decisions on natural systems.






as you see fit.

Look at the picture of the men fishing.

Question: What choices are humans making in their fishing practices

on coral reefs? What would happen if more choose this fishing

method?

Response: Overfishing, taking more faster than what is being produced, and

destructive fishing practices, using dynamite or poison which eventually kills

all the living organisms and the ecosystem.

If more chose this fishing method, less fish would be taken and the other

organisms and ecosystem would not be harmed.

Leave only bubbles! When snorkeling or diving, be responsible by not touching or stepping on top of corals and the reef.

Look around at the exhibits, taking note of the variety of

plants and animals.

Question: These exhibits represent an area of rainforest that is

quickly disappearing. The trees are harvested to supply wood used

for housing and fuel for cooking. Can you think of a way to meet

these human needs and to save the trees?

Reponses: This is to get the students thinking and to brainstorm some

ideas with their classmates. Is there a substitute for wood ? A house

design that uses less wood? Is there something that can burn instead of

wood? Is there more efficient way to cook?

Bindes! Bindes are ovens that were created and provided to families for cooking. They are more efficient than open fires and require less wood for fuel. This lessens the demand of cutting down the trees. (Note: look at the

Cotton top tamarin graphic for a picture)

Tropics Trail Tropics Trail

Beavers

5.4.1.1.1 Describe how plant and animal structures

and their functions provide an advantage for survival

in a given natural system.

Minnesota Trail Lodge

5.1.1.1.4 Understand that different models

can be used to represent natural phenomena

and these models have limitations about what

they can explain.






as you see fit.

Quickly observe this map of Minnesota.

Question: What information do you quickly gather about MN?

Looking at it longer, is there any other information you can gather?

Response: There are 3 major biomes (areas) in MN– Northern Coniferous

forests, Deciduous forests, and Prairie grasslands. This also shows some

major waterways locations (lakes and rivers) and some topography

variations (compare NE to SW).

Land of 90,000 miles of shoreline! Minnesota’s claim to fame isn’t only the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” , it has thousands of miles of shoreline to go with it. Ninety-thousand miles total and this adds up to be more than California, Florida, and Hawaii combined.

Observe the beaver’s ecosystem. Take note of some living

and nonliving factors.

Question: What is the survival advantage for beavers to build both a

lodge and dam?

Response: The dam pools water in an area giving beavers a deeper

water habitat. This also provides habitat for many other organisms. The

lodge protects the beaver from predators especially with its underwater

entrance.

Early Money! A great number of people immigrated and settled in Minnesota because of the beaver trade. Their pelts were used as currency in exchange for goods. In the case behind you, look for the sign that can tell you how

many beavers were needed to buy a man’s shirt.

Minnesota Trail Minnesota Trail

Bald eagle

5.1.3.2.1 Describe how science and engineering

influence and are influenced by local traditions and

beliefs.

5.4.4.1.1 Give examples of beneficial and harmful

human interaction with natural systems.

Minnesota gray wolves

5.1.3.2.1 Describe how science and

engineering influence and are influenced by

local traditions and beliefs.






as you see fit.

Look and read some of the testimony given by the variety of

people.

Question: Imagine you are a looking to develop some land in

northern Minnesota in gray wolf habitat. After reading the statements

from various individuals, how would their opinions about wolves

influence your plans?

Response: The answers will vary. This is simply to expose students to

some of the complexity of modern science and personal views about the

natural world.

MN grey wolves rebound! The grey wolf was taken off the MN Endangered Species List in 2007 because of conservation efforts of scientists, engineers and the community. There is still more to accomplish as life moves forward in the 21st century.

Observe the bald eagle for about 3 minutes.

Question: What is the significance of this bird? Does anyone know the story about modern technology and science preventing its extinction?

Response: The bald eagle is our national bird. Rapidly declining populations during much of the 20th century put the bald eagle on the Endangered Species List. Researchers eventually found that DDT, a pesticide sprayed on crops, was washing into waterways and being absorbed by aquatic plants and fish, in turn poisoning the eagles who ate the fish. The DDT in their systems caused them to produce poor quality egg shells that would be broken during incubation or fail to hatch at all. With the banning of DDT in 1972, the bald eagle population has rebounded dramatically, causing them to be removed from the Endangered Species List in 2007. Scientists continue to work to develop

effective pesticides that do not harm wildlife or ecosystems.

The National Turkey? Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United

States. He felt the eagle was a bird of ‘”bad, moral character”.

Minnesota Trail Minnesota Trail

discovery bay shark reef wonders of the deep...pacific shores 5.3.1.2.2 explain how slow processes,...

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