Week 2: Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services
Grade 7 Science | Rosche | Kairos Academies
The Pollinator Crisis Mystery
Learning Targets
Bee populations have declined by 40% in the last decade. Scientists estimate that 75% of crops depend on pollinators. If bees disappear, what happens to our food supply - and how might this cascade through ecosystems?
Hook: The Pollinator Crisis
12 points | ~10 minutes
Week 1 Connection:
We saw how wolves affected rivers through trophic cascades. Could
bees affect our food supply in a similar way?
Pollinator Decline Data
Factor
Impact
Consequence
Bee population decline
40% since 2006
Reduced crop pollination
Crop dependence
75% of crops
Food security risk
Economic impact
$235 billion/year
Agricultural collapse risk
Wild plant dependence
87% of flowering plants
Ecosystem collapse
This is happening NOW:
Unlike the wolves we studied, this crisis is unfolding in real-time.
Scientists are working urgently to understand and reverse pollinator
decline.
Prairie Restoration Along
Missouri Rivers
Pollinators aren't just important in distant ecosystems—they're
critical to Missouri's prairie restoration. Along the Mississippi
and Missouri riverbanks, native prairie plants depend on diverse
pollinators.
Dr. Francisca (Panchita) Cianciaruso, a
Brazilian-American biodiversity scientist, studies how habitat
loss affects pollinator networks. In St. Louis, organizations
restore prairie habitats in Forest Park and along the riverfront.
When one pollinator species declines (like native bees), plants
lose reproduction partners—exactly the biodiversity-ecosystem
function relationship you're studying. Every prairie restoration
project needs scientists, land managers, and community advocates
working together.
Hook Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Hook: The Pollinator Crisis
Pollinator Decline Data
| Factor | Impact | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Bee population decline | 40% since 2006 | Reduced crop pollination |
| Crop dependence | 75% of crops | Food security risk |
| Economic impact | $235 billion/year | Agricultural collapse risk |
| Wild plant dependence | 87% of flowering plants | Ecosystem collapse |
Pollinators aren't just important in distant ecosystems—they're critical to Missouri's prairie restoration. Along the Mississippi and Missouri riverbanks, native prairie plants depend on diverse pollinators. Dr. Francisca (Panchita) Cianciaruso, a Brazilian-American biodiversity scientist, studies how habitat loss affects pollinator networks. In St. Louis, organizations restore prairie habitats in Forest Park and along the riverfront. When one pollinator species declines (like native bees), plants lose reproduction partners—exactly the biodiversity-ecosystem function relationship you're studying. Every prairie restoration project needs scientists, land managers, and community advocates working together.
Hook Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Station 1: Biodiversity &
Resilience
20 points | ~18 minutes
Focus:
Explore how diversity buffers ecosystems against change. Compare the
resilience of diverse ecosystems vs. monocultures.
Simulation Comparison: Diverse vs. Monoculture
Factor
Monoculture
Diverse Ecosystem
Disease resistance
Low - one disease kills all
High - different species survive
Climate adaptation
Low - narrow tolerance
High - varied tolerances
Pest vulnerability
High - easy target
Low - natural pest control
Recovery from disturbance
Slow - must restart
Fast - remaining species fill gaps
WORKED EXAMPLE: Biodiversity
Impact Analysis (PARTIAL - You Complete Steps 3-4!)
Week 2: Some steps shown, you complete the rest. Building
independence!
Scenario: Two coral reefs are both hit by a
disease outbreak. Reef A has 150 coral species. Reef B is a
monoculture with 5 coral species (mostly one dominant type).
Both reefs lose 30% of their coral to disease.
Partial Expert Thinking Process:
Step 1: Compare initial diversity (SHOWN)
"Which reef has more biodiversity? What does that mean for
resilience?"
Reef A: 150 species = HIGH biodiversity
Reef B: 5 species
(mostly 1) = LOW biodiversity
Biodiversity-Stability
Hypothesis: More species → Greater resilience
Step 2: Analyze immediate impact (SHOWN)
"Both lose 30% of coral. But what about the remaining
species?"
Reef A after disease: 150 × 0.70 = ~105 species remain
Reef
B after disease: If disease targets dominant species →
possibly only 1-2 species remain
Reef A still has many
species; Reef B may have lost functional diversity
Step 3: Predict recovery
trajectory (YOUR TURN!)
Which reef will recover faster and why?
- Which reef has more "insurance" species to fill gaps?
- Which reef still has functional redundancy?
-
What happens if another disturbance hits during recovery?
Hint: Think about the "insurance policy" concept - more
species = more backup options.
Step 4: Predict long-term
outcome (YOUR TURN!)
If this disease becomes a recurring annual event, what happens
to each reef over 10 years?
Hint: Consider cumulative effects and the role of diversity in
providing resistance to repeated disturbances.
COMPLETE STEPS 3-4 ON YOUR
OWN!
You understand the biodiversity-stability relationship—now
apply it to predict outcomes.
SELF-EXPLANATION PROMPT:
Why is functional redundancy (having multiple species that do
the same job) important for ecosystem resilience, even if it
seems "wasteful"?
Key Insight:
Biodiversity = Insurance Policy! More species means more ways to
survive change. When one species struggles, others can compensate.
Interactive Simulator
Common Misconceptions
Misconception
Reality
"Biodiversity is nice to have"
Essential for ecosystem services we depend on
"We only need useful species"
All species contribute to the web - we can't predict which
"Ecosystems recover quickly"
Recovery can take decades to centuries
Station 1 Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Station 1: Biodiversity & Resilience
Simulation Comparison: Diverse vs. Monoculture
| Factor | Monoculture | Diverse Ecosystem |
|---|---|---|
| Disease resistance | Low - one disease kills all | High - different species survive |
| Climate adaptation | Low - narrow tolerance | High - varied tolerances |
| Pest vulnerability | High - easy target | Low - natural pest control |
| Recovery from disturbance | Slow - must restart | Fast - remaining species fill gaps |
WORKED EXAMPLE: Biodiversity Impact Analysis (PARTIAL - You Complete Steps 3-4!)
Week 2: Some steps shown, you complete the rest. Building independence!
Scenario: Two coral reefs are both hit by a disease outbreak. Reef A has 150 coral species. Reef B is a monoculture with 5 coral species (mostly one dominant type). Both reefs lose 30% of their coral to disease.
Partial Expert Thinking Process:
Step 1: Compare initial diversity (SHOWN)
"Which reef has more biodiversity? What does that mean for resilience?"
Reef A: 150 species = HIGH biodiversity
Reef B: 5 species
(mostly 1) = LOW biodiversity
Biodiversity-Stability
Hypothesis: More species → Greater resilience
Step 2: Analyze immediate impact (SHOWN)
"Both lose 30% of coral. But what about the remaining species?"
Reef A after disease: 150 × 0.70 = ~105 species remain
Reef
B after disease: If disease targets dominant species →
possibly only 1-2 species remain
Reef A still has many
species; Reef B may have lost functional diversity
Step 3: Predict recovery trajectory (YOUR TURN!)
Which reef will recover faster and why?
- Which reef has more "insurance" species to fill gaps?
- Which reef still has functional redundancy?
- What happens if another disturbance hits during recovery?
Hint: Think about the "insurance policy" concept - more species = more backup options.
Step 4: Predict long-term outcome (YOUR TURN!)
If this disease becomes a recurring annual event, what happens to each reef over 10 years?
Hint: Consider cumulative effects and the role of diversity in providing resistance to repeated disturbances.
COMPLETE STEPS 3-4 ON YOUR OWN!
You understand the biodiversity-stability relationship—now apply it to predict outcomes.
SELF-EXPLANATION PROMPT:
Why is functional redundancy (having multiple species that do the same job) important for ecosystem resilience, even if it seems "wasteful"?
Interactive Simulator
Common Misconceptions
| Misconception | Reality |
|---|---|
| "Biodiversity is nice to have" | Essential for ecosystem services we depend on |
| "We only need useful species" | All species contribute to the web - we can't predict which |
| "Ecosystems recover quickly" | Recovery can take decades to centuries |
Station 1 Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Station 2: Ecosystem Services
Valuation
20 points | ~15 minutes
Big Question:
How do we put a dollar value on nature? And what happens when we
lose these services?
The Four Types of Ecosystem Services
Provisioning
Food, water, timber, medicines
Regulating
Climate, water purification, pollination
Cultural
Recreation, spiritual, aesthetic
Supporting
Nutrient cycling, habitat, soil formation
Economic Values (per hectare/year)
Service
Value
Local Example
Pollination
$3,251
Apple orchards, berry farms
Water purification
$2,455
Wetlands filtering runoff
Carbon storage
$1,987
Forests absorbing CO2
Flood control
$4,539
Riparian zones absorbing floods
Discussion:
Should we put a dollar value on nature? What happens when we lose
ecosystem services? Who pays when ecosystems are destroyed?
Station 2 Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Station 2: Ecosystem Services Valuation
The Four Types of Ecosystem Services
Provisioning
Regulating
Cultural
Supporting
Economic Values (per hectare/year)
| Service | Value | Local Example |
|---|---|---|
| Pollination | $3,251 | Apple orchards, berry farms |
| Water purification | $2,455 | Wetlands filtering runoff |
| Carbon storage | $1,987 | Forests absorbing CO2 |
| Flood control | $4,539 | Riparian zones absorbing floods |
Station 2 Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Station 3: Design a
Conservation Plan
25 points | ~20 minutes
Conservation Challenge Scenario
A local wetland is threatened by development. The wetland
provides:
- Habitat for 200+ species
- Water filtration for 50,000 people
- Flood control during storms
- Recreation for the community
A developer wants to build a shopping center. You must create an
evidence-based argument for or against this development.
Your Conservation Plan Must Include:
-
Argument for preservation - Use evidence from
ecosystem services
-
Alternative solutions - How can development needs
be met elsewhere?
-
Long-term sustainability - What happens in 10,
50, 100 years?
-
Stakeholder considerations - Who is affected?
How?
YOUR CHOICE: Select Your Conservation Strategy
You have THREE conservation approaches to build your argument.
YOU choose which strategy resonates with your values!
All three can earn full points—pick based on YOUR priorities.
Path A: Evidence-Based
Scientific (Data-Driven)
Build your argument using ecosystem service valuations,
biodiversity data, and quantitative evidence. Calculate total
economic value of services lost vs. shopping center revenue.
Cite peer-reviewed studies.
If you value hard data, scientific rigor, and objective
measurements, choose this path.
Path B: Community-Centered
(Stakeholder Engagement)
Focus on who is affected—residents using recreation,
downstream communities relying on water filtration, local
species. Identify compromise solutions that meet both
development and conservation needs. Interview-style
stakeholder analysis.
If you value equity, community voices, and inclusive
solutions, choose this path.
Path C: Economic Valuation
(Long-Term Investment)
Compare short-term development profit to long-term ecosystem
service value over 50-100 years. Include costs of replacing
wetland services (water treatment plants, flood
infrastructure). Natural capital accounting approach.
If you value economic sustainability and long-term
planning, choose this path.
Why This Matters:
Real conservation debates use all three approaches! Scientists
use Path A, environmental justice advocates use Path B,
economists use Path C. Professional conservationists often
combine all three for strongest arguments.
SEP-7 Practice:
You're engaging in argument from evidence - just like real
scientists do when advising policymakers!
Station 3 Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Station 3: Design a Conservation Plan
Conservation Challenge Scenario
A local wetland is threatened by development. The wetland provides:
- Habitat for 200+ species
- Water filtration for 50,000 people
- Flood control during storms
- Recreation for the community
A developer wants to build a shopping center. You must create an evidence-based argument for or against this development.
Your Conservation Plan Must Include:
- Argument for preservation - Use evidence from ecosystem services
- Alternative solutions - How can development needs be met elsewhere?
- Long-term sustainability - What happens in 10, 50, 100 years?
- Stakeholder considerations - Who is affected? How?
YOUR CHOICE: Select Your Conservation Strategy
You have THREE conservation approaches to build your argument. YOU choose which strategy resonates with your values! All three can earn full points—pick based on YOUR priorities.
Path A: Evidence-Based Scientific (Data-Driven)
Build your argument using ecosystem service valuations, biodiversity data, and quantitative evidence. Calculate total economic value of services lost vs. shopping center revenue. Cite peer-reviewed studies. If you value hard data, scientific rigor, and objective measurements, choose this path.
Path B: Community-Centered (Stakeholder Engagement)
Focus on who is affected—residents using recreation, downstream communities relying on water filtration, local species. Identify compromise solutions that meet both development and conservation needs. Interview-style stakeholder analysis. If you value equity, community voices, and inclusive solutions, choose this path.
Path C: Economic Valuation (Long-Term Investment)
Compare short-term development profit to long-term ecosystem service value over 50-100 years. Include costs of replacing wetland services (water treatment plants, flood infrastructure). Natural capital accounting approach. If you value economic sustainability and long-term planning, choose this path.
Why This Matters: Real conservation debates use all three approaches! Scientists use Path A, environmental justice advocates use Path B, economists use Path C. Professional conservationists often combine all three for strongest arguments.
Station 3 Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Missouri Biodiversity Hotspots
Missouri is one of the most ecologically diverse states in the Midwest—with over 800 vertebrate species and 2,400+ plant species. Positioned at the crossroads of major biomes (Ozark forests, tallgrass prairie, Mississippi River wetlands), Missouri's biodiversity provides billions of dollars in ecosystem services annually.
Missouri Biodiversity by the Numbers
| Category | Missouri Diversity | Midwest Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Bird Species | 420+ species | Top 3 in Midwest |
| Freshwater Fish | 200+ species | Top 5 nationally |
| Cave-dwelling Species | 1,100+ species | #1 (most caves in U.S.) |
| Tree Species | 150+ native species | Top 3 in Midwest |
| Total Vertebrates | 800+ species | High diversity state |
St. Louis-Area Biodiversity Hotspot: Mississippi River Corridor
The Mississippi River corridor through St. Louis is one of North America's most important freshwater ecosystems and provides critical services to the region:
- Provisioning Services: $300+ million/year commercial fishing industry (catfish, paddlefish, Asian carp fishery); supports drinking water for 20+ million people downstream
- Regulating Services: Floodplains and wetlands filter agricultural runoff; flood control infrastructure protects St. Louis metro (levees + natural wetlands saved billions during 1993 and 2019 floods)
- Cultural Services: $1.5 billion/year recreational fishing, boating, and riverside parks; birdwatching tourism (Mississippi Flyway migration route hosts 40% of North American waterfowl)
- Supporting Services: Critical habitat for 260+ fish species; migratory stopover for 3 million birds annually; largest freshwater mussel diversity in world
Missouri Pollinator Crisis - Local Impact
Remember the pollinator crisis from the Hook? Here's how it affects Missouri:
Missouri has 450+ native bee species (not just honeybees!), including:
- Monarch butterflies: Missouri is on the critical Central migration route for eastern monarchs (overwintering in Mexico). Population declined 80% since 1990s due to habitat loss and pesticides—milkweed (only monarch food plant) removed from 99% of former prairie habitat.
- Native solitary bees: Critical pollinators for apples, blueberries, pumpkins, and squash—native prairie plants host 5x more bee species than non-natives
- Economic impact: Missouri agriculture earns $10+ billion annually; 75% of crops (apples, blueberries, cucurbits, berries) depend on pollinators
St. Louis Urban Biodiversity: Forest Park Case Study
Forest Park (1,300 acres in central St. Louis - larger than NYC's Central Park) demonstrates urban biodiversity value:
| Restoration Action (2015-2024) | Biodiversity Outcome | Ecosystem Service Gained |
|---|---|---|
| Removed invasive bush honeysuckle | Native bird species increased 30% | Pest control (insect-eating birds) |
| Restored 5 acres of native prairie | Native pollinator species up 35% | Pollination services for urban gardens |
| Created 80-acre forest corridor along River Des Peres | Migratory bird stopover habitat | Carbon sequestration (18 tons CO2/year) |
| Improved wetlands around Post-Dispatch Lake | Amphibian diversity doubled | Flood control + water filtration |
Missouri Tallgrass Prairies: A Disappearing Ecosystem
The Missouri tallgrass prairie once covered 15 million acres—two-thirds of the state. Today, less than 1% remains—making it one of North America's most endangered ecosystems.
- What was lost: Habitat for endemic species (Greater prairie chicken - extirpated from Missouri by 2004; now being reintroduced), flood buffering capacity, carbon storage, cultural heritage
- Why it matters: Prairies absorbed flood water and filtered agricultural runoff. Their loss contributed to catastrophic Mississippi River floods in 1993 and 2019.
- Restoration efforts: Shaw Nature Reserve (Gray Summit, MO - 40 miles from St. Louis) protects 2,500 acres of restored prairie and woodland, demonstrating biodiversity-resilience connection you studied this week
Putting a price on ecosystem services in Missouri (per year):
- Pollination services: $350+ million (agricultural crop pollination)
- Water purification: $5+ billion (wetlands/forests filtering runoff - cost to replace with treatment plants)
- Flood control: $8+ billion (natural wetlands/forests vs. engineered flood infrastructure - lesson from 1993 flood)
- Carbon sequestration: $1.5+ billion (forests absorb CO2)
- Recreation/tourism: $12+ billion (hunting, fishing, birdwatching, state parks, cave tourism)
- TOTAL: $25+ billion/year in ecosystem services from Missouri biodiversity
When we lose biodiversity, we lose these services—and replacing them with technology costs 10-100x more!
ELITE PROJECT: Community Biodiversity Audit
Document organisms in your neighborhood, school, or backyard. Identify food web connections, count species diversity, predict trophic cascades. Create a "Backyard Trophic Cascade Map" showing: producers, consumers, decomposers, and cascade effects if one species disappeared. Share results with Mr. Rosche or contribute to iNaturalist database—real scientists use citizen science! No points required, but demonstrates elite ecological thinking.
Exit Ticket
23 points | ~15 minutes | 2 NEW + 2 SPIRAL + 1 INTEGRATION + SEP + 1 SEP
Exit Ticket Structure
-
2 NEW questions: Biodiversity & ecosystem
services
-
2 SPIRAL questions: Cycle 3 (climate factors),
Cycle 4 (human impact)
-
1 INTEGRATION: Connect Week 1 cascades to
biodiversity
-
Argue for conservation using evidence
Exit Ticket Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Exit Ticket
Exit Ticket Structure
- 2 NEW questions: Biodiversity & ecosystem services
- 2 SPIRAL questions: Cycle 3 (climate factors), Cycle 4 (human impact)
- 1 INTEGRATION: Connect Week 1 cascades to biodiversity
- Argue for conservation using evidence
Exit Ticket Form
Form will be embedded here by your teacher
Key Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Cognate Strategy: Many science words look similar in English and Spanish — use your Spanish to learn science!
| Term | Spanish | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| biodiversity | — | biodiversidad |
| resilience | — | resiliencia |
| monoculture | — | monocultivo |
| ecosystem services | servicios ecosistémicos | Beneficios de ecosistemas sanos / Benefits from healthy ecosystems |
| conservation | conservación | Protección de la biodiversidad / Protection of biodiversity |
| species | — | especie |
| pollination | polinización | Transferencia de polen / Transfer of pollen by animals |
Worked Example
Step-by-Step Problem Solving
Problem Scenario
Review the problem scenario and work through each step below.
Practice These Vocabulary Terms
Need Extra Support? Click Here
Tier 2 Supports
- Ecosystem services categories chart - Visual reference
- Sentence starters for arguments - Structured writing support
- Value calculation guide - Step-by-step process
Sentence Starters
- "Biodiversity increases resilience because..."
- "This ecosystem service is valuable because..."
- "Evidence from the data shows that..."
- "The wetland should be protected because..."
Tier 3 Supports
- Simplified valuation with fewer services
- Step-by-step conservation planning guide
- Video alternatives for biodiversity concepts
Enrichment & Extension
Optional deep dives for early finishers.
Optional content if you finish early or want to go deeper.
Scientist Spotlight
Research a scientist who contributed to this week's topic area and describe their key findings.
Scientist Spotlight: Dr. Vandana Shiva
Dr. Vandana Shiva is a physicist, ecologist, and environmental activist from India who has dedicated her life to protecting biodiversity and fighting for the rights of small farmers. Her work connects ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, and social justice—demonstrating that protecting nature means protecting people.
Born in 1952 in Dehradun, India, Shiva earned her PhD in physics from the University of Western Ontario (Canada) in 1978. Rather than pursuing theoretical physics, she returned to India to address environmental crises threatening her homeland—deforestation, water scarcity, and the loss of traditional farming knowledge. She founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Ecology in 1982 to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture.
Groundbreaking Work: Seed Sovereignty & Biodiversity Banks
Shiva recognized that biodiversity loss wasn't just an ecological problem—it was a justice issue. When multinational corporations began patenting seeds and promoting monoculture agriculture in India, thousands of traditional crop varieties disappeared:
- The Problem: India once grew 200,000+ varieties of rice. By the 1990s, industrial agriculture had reduced this to ~50 varieties, making farmers dependent on expensive corporate seeds.
- Her Solution: Shiva created "seed banks" (Navdanya) to preserve traditional seed varieties. Farmers save, share, and replant diverse seeds—maintaining biodiversity AND economic independence.
- Impact: Navdanya has saved 5,000+ crop varieties from extinction, trained 800,000+ farmers in organic methods, and established 124 community seed banks across India.
- Connection to This Week: Just like diverse ecosystems are more resilient (Week 2 focus!), diverse crops create resilient food systems. Monocultures are vulnerable to disease, pests, and climate change—exactly the biodiversity-resilience relationship you studied!
Environmental Justice Dimensions
Shiva's work reveals that biodiversity loss disproportionately harms poor and marginalized communities:
- Wealthy Nations: Can afford to import diverse foods from around the world; climate-controlled agriculture reduces weather risk
- Poor Farmers: Depend on free seeds, local crop diversity, and traditional knowledge—all threatened by corporate control and monoculture
- Women: In India and much of the Global South, women manage household food security and preserve seed knowledge. When biodiversity is lost, women's knowledge is devalued and food insecurity increases.
Why Her Work Matters for YOU
- Interdisciplinary Science: Shiva shows how physics + ecology + economics + social justice = powerful change. Science isn't just lab work!
- Local Action, Global Impact: She started by saving seeds in one Indian village—now it's a worldwide movement
- Challenging Power: Shiva stood up to corporations and governments to protect biodiversity and farmers' rights. Scientists can be activists!
- Recognition: She's won the Right Livelihood Award (1993, "Alternative Nobel Prize"), been named one of Time Magazine's "Heroes of the Planet," and advised governments worldwide on biodiversity policy
"Biodiversity is the currency of the poor. When biodiversity is eroded, it is the poor who suffer most." - Dr. Vandana Shiva
Think about this week's content: When pollinators decline, who suffers? When ecosystem services are lost, who can afford technological replacements? Shiva teaches us that environmental science must consider justice.
Week 2 Complete!
Great work exploring Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services this week!