los angeles river speices symposium

Overview

Now it is time to share what you have learned about your species with the rest of the class as part of Los Angeles River Virtual Species Symposium.

You will produce a video based on the research and data analysis that you have done for the LA River Project over the last few weeks. For details on exactly what content to include and helpful tools/resources that you can use to make your video, please refer back to the assignment.

Video format requirements:

• Length 2-3 minutes
• Must include at least 5 relevant, high quality images, including one graph 
• Must include an audio voice-over for at least 50% of the video
• May include background music  (not too loud I need to hear your voice!)

First Post – Submit a Link to Your Video – Due Thursday 

• Title your post with the name of your species
• Embed a link to your video or post the video in the discussion

Peer Reply Posts – Due Sunday

Most scientists agree that it is unlikely the  That means that they are trying to return the river to the type of habitat preferred by native species, but realistically we can’t fully restore the river to what is was like before urban Los Angeles surrounded it. Some species are locally extinct an may never return. Plans may eventually include re-introducing some species (where humans move the animals back into the river), but they mostly rely on allowing them to return naturally. 

For example the endangered Santa Ana sucker fish has been found upstream and, if the habitat in the lower parts of the river are improved, it may return on its own. In contrast, the native western pond turtle is a species of special concern and would likely need a captive-breeding program (where turtles are raised in captivity and returned to the river).

Urban ecologists see the LA River as being a combination of native and Introduced species, with the hope that as habitat improves, the shift will be towards more native species. In thinking about Introduced species in the river, it is not all bad.  For example, the Introduced sunfish are a great food source for the native green herons.  

Thinking about the information above, reply to at least two peers. Your replies should address how their proposal would impact your species in 1-2 short paragraphs.  

• State the name and taxonomic group for your species in your reply.
• Would their proposal benefit your species? Or would it harm your species?
• If your species increased in number, how would it impact your classmates’ species? 
• Why? You should reference specific at least two aspects of the species’ biology and ecology from your .

Grading

To see how this discussion will be graded, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of this page, then click "Show Rubric". Your video is worth 30 points and the peer replies (minimum of 2 are required) are worth a total of 10 points.

While I am not specifically grading you on your spelling or grammar, scientific communication is an important skill. Please proofread and spellcheck before posting/submitting to ensure that your ideas come across clearly. Up to 10% may be deducted for excessive grammar and spelling errors that affect the readability of your work.