Fish as Fertilizer by Mark L. Kuhlmann

Part 2—Do Marine-Derived Nutrients Affect Stream Organisms?

Instructions—Second Jigsaw Group

Each person should take a few minutes to explain his/her figure(s) and the major conclusions about it. When everyone understands all the individual figures, the group should use its combined knowledge to answer the questions below and come up with an overall description of the role of salmon in the nutrient cycle of stream ecosystems. (Try making a diagram!)

Questions

  1. What are some likely ways that salmon carcasses affect fish growth—i.e., how could the nutrients from salmon carcasses get to or affect fish growth? Support your answer by referring to specific data in the figures.

  2. Compare the two methods (observational study and experiment) used to answer these questions. What are the strengths and limitations of each?

Go to Part 3

Originally published at http://www.sciencecases.org/salmon_forest/case2.asp

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