This video describes the benefits of oyster reefs for erosion control and preventing damage from strong storms and floods.
The ecological benefits of oyster reefs are well-described in this video including flood control, erosion control, habitat engineering, and water filtration.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The video is short and provides nice animations to illustrate ecological concepts and demonstrate the historical ecosystems in the New York area.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should be familiar with the concept of sea level rise as a consequence of climate change.
There may be a commercial before the video.
Differentiation
Consider having students draw pictures to demonstrate the positive effects of oyster reefs to coastal ecosystems.
If students have never seen the ocean or coast, use Google Maps or another resource to help them visualize how intertidal habitats have a relationship with the nearby land.
This resource is a 6-minute video that discusses the roles that oysters and oyster reefs perform in protecting coastlines from erosion, filtering water, and generally promoting ecosystem health. However, over the past few decades, oyster populations have been in decline. This resource presents strategies for protecting and reintroduction oysters, and is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science and Engineering
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-4 Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
