For Instructors
Each Blue Planet Prize Story contains three supplementary units: Story Guide, Further Reading and Research, and For Instructors.
These contain useful information that instructors can use to help students understand the content.
Please use these during classes and provide to students for their self-learning.
[Target Audience: Teachers, parents, and others involved in education]
Summary of the Story
Professor Carpenter has been studying ecosystems and methods to reverse pollution in lakes for over 40 years. He is especially known for his work on trophic cascades, which he validated by intentionally controlling the actual ecosystems in lakes. The method can be applied to other lakes.
In addition, he expanded his research from lakes to the phosphorus cycle, which is related to lake pollution. The planetary boundaries, which have gained global attention, show the limits and current state of the Earth, and among the nine indicators used there, the part related to the phosphorus cycle is based on the research achievements of Professor Carpenter's group. Planetary boundaries show that the current state of the phosphorus cycle is critical.
The consumer-resource relationship of organisms is fundamental to the broader ecological system, which includes humans. Learning about trophic cascades will increase students' awareness about the relationship between organisms in ecosystems.
Teaching Examples
If you are having trouble finding teaching material, please see the examples provided below.
Find the Relationship Between Organisms!
This section allows students to explore the life around them and learn that all life exists in the consumer-resource relationship.