Using Writing to Teach Science and Policy Aspects of Drought and Water-Ecosystem Services in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (California, USA).

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Students learn how drought affects aquatic ecosystem services such as freshwater provision and habitat preservation by critically analyzing the current problems in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Specific topics include the predicted climate-induced changes in the Sierra Nevada snowpack, factors influencing the endangered Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), problems affecting the salmon and other commercial fisheries, the substantial water usage of the agricultural industry, and the recent peripheral canal proposal that attempts to address all of these problems.

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Primary or BEN resource type	Assignment/activity (non-laboratory)
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Format	doc
Ecological Core Concept	The science of ecology -- Research tools, technology, and innovations The science of ecology Human impacts -- Climate change Human impacts Applied ecology -- Management Applied ecology
Classification	Drought & Water-Ecosystem Services Collection
Drought & Water-Ecosystem Services Collection	On
Conservation Targets Under Global Change Collection	Off
Big Data Collection	Off
Editor's Choice	No
Audience	Undergraduate lower division 13-14
Pedagogical Use Description	This activity was originally designed for a writing seminar and would work best as a final project in a writing-intensive environmental science or ecology course. The central component of this activity is a “policy forum” writing project. The learning objectives of this project include the ability articulate and support a clear, significant argument or central claim through writing; and comprehend, analyze, and compare primary research articles. While working towards these objectives students will learn several broad ecological concepts, including the current and past problems regarding drought in the western U.S., climate change effects on water resources, and the ecosystem services provided by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Keywords	drought, Aquatic ecosystem services, climate change, California, science writing
Life science discipline (subject)	Ecology
Primary Author Controlled Name	Sandra Cooke
Primary Author Affiliation	Duke University
Primary Author email	s.cooke@duke.edu
Rights	Author retains copyright.
Resource Editor	Unknown
Reviewer A	Unknown
Reviewer B	Unknown
Date Of Record Submission	2009-09-15

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