Too Much Algae – and Too Many Microbes – Threaten Coral Reefs

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Resource ID#: 161349 Primary Type: Text Resource
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This informational text resource is designed to support reading in the content area. The article describes a recent study that helped researchers prove a link between overfishing to increased growth of fleshy algae to microbialization. This increase in microbes causes a depletion of the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water. In addition, the increase in microbial growth can spread disease. In conclusion, microbialization is found to be a major contributing factor to the destruction and decline of coral reef health.

General Information

Subject(s): Science, English Language Arts
Grade Level(s): 9, 10
Intended Audience: Educators educators
Resource supports reading in content area:Yes
Keywords: coral reefs, bacterial growth, ecology, food webs, human activity, overfishing, oxygen depletion, fleshy algae, microbes, marine ecosystem, reef food chain, microbialization, text complexity, informational text
Instructional Component Type(s): Text Resource
Resource Collection: STEM Reading Resources

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Lesson Plan

Overfishing Kills Reef Systems!:

In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that addresses the effects of overfishing on coral reef systems. The text explains how scientists have found that overfishing removes many of the algae-eating fish, and this causes an increase in algae growth, which leads to a microbial increase, and finally leads to coral mortality. This lesson is designed to support reading in the content area. The lesson plan includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. 

 

Type: Lesson Plan