How Oysters Can Stop a Flood
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Engineering
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Vox
What it is
- 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.
- The video opens by referencing the popularity of oysters in New York City before the the surrounding oyster reefs were overharvested.
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.
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 & Implementation
- 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.
- Other resources related to this topic include this video about mussels and this video about preventing coastal erosion.
From the scientist review
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.
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