| Fish Survey Learning Activity |
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Overview
Fish Survey is a hands-on activity to help students learn about some of the work related to the Environmental and Agricultural Systems career field. One of the objectives of the activity is to provide the opportunity for students to do work tasks and then to reflect upon those tasks. The exploration activity is set up to be completed in one class period. The activity could used to introduce the career field.
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Standards
School Counseling
K-12.3.1 Identify values, attitudes, and beliefs.
K-12.1.1 Develop an awareness of personal abilities, skills, interests, and motivations.
K-12.1.2 Identify personal skills, interests, and abilities and relate them to current career choices.
K-12.1.3 Identify personal preferences and interests which influence career choices and success.
K-12.1.3 Demonstrate how interests, abilities, and achievement relate to achieving career goals.
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Science
8.2.1 Design and conduct a scientific investigation.
8.2.1 Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
8.2.1 Given evidence, develop explanations.
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Materials and Supplies
- One spoon and paper cup for each team of students/clients
- Small white beans, about 100, for each team
- Colored markers
- “Fish Survey Data Collection” worksheet
- Calculators (optional)
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Instructions for Educators
1. Divide the students/clients into teams of 2-3 fish and game wardens.
2. Give each team a paper cup half filled with about 100 white beans. Explain that each cup represents a lake ant the beans represent a bluegill population.
3. Have each team estimate the number of bluegills in their lakes without touching the bluegills in any way. Have them record their estimate on the “Fish Survey Data Collection” form. Discuss the difficulty of making an estimate and the potential for error.
4. Explain that their job as fish and game wardens is to gain information about the number of bluegills in the lake. 5. They will start the process by netting and tagging some bluegills. Have them pour out or about 30 beans to represent the portion of the bluegills netted and tagged.
6. Have them use a marker to color or tag the fish. Have them count the number of bluegills that were tagged and record the number on the data collection sheet.
7. Have them release their bluegills back into the lake by pouring them back into the cup. They will simulate the daily movements of the fish by shaking their cups.
8. Next have the students try to determine the total bluegill population of their lakes by taking a sample with a “net” or their spoon. They will record the total number of fish trap netted and the total number of these that are tagged. Have them record the information on their data collection sheet.
9. Explain the mathematical formula that is used to mathematically estimate the population of the bluegills in the lake.
Total fish in trap net that are tagged X Total fish in trap net
Population = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total tagged fish in net
10. Have them return their bluegills to the lake and mix the population. Have them take a second sample and record the data and do a second calculation.
11. Ask them to compare their two population calculations and their initial estimate. Discuss possible explanations for any differences.
12. Have them determine the accuracy of their estimate and calculations by returning their second sample to the lake and actually counting their fish. Stress that fish and game warden do not have the opportunity to do an actual count. Discuss which calculation was the closest to the actual population. Ask them to average to two calculations and discuss why this might be an effective technique.
13. Have them complete the “Thinking about the Fish Survey” section.
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Fish Survey
1. In this activity you will be acting as a team of fish and game wardens. The activity will simulate a fish survey to determine the population of bluegills in a hypothetical lake. You will be tagging the fish and using a trap net to do a capture and recapture technique.
2. You will be assigned a lake (paper cup) with a population of bluegills (beans). In addition, you will receive a net (spoon).
3. The first step is to estimate the number of bluegills in your lake. Do not disturb the bluegills as you make your estimate. Record the estimate on “Fish Survey Data Collection” sheet.
4. The second step is to net and tag a portion of the fish in the lake. Pour out (net) a portion of the fish and use a colored maker to mark (tag) the fish that have been netted. Count the number of tagged fish and record the information on the data collection sheet.
5. Return the tagged fish to the lake. Simulate the daily movements of the fish by covering the cup and shaking it.
6. The third step is to determine the total population of the bluegills in your lake. Take a sample with your spoon (net). Count the total number of fish in the net. Then count the total number that are tagged. Record the information on the data sheet.
7. Use the mathematical formula to estimate the population of bluegills in the lake.
8. Return the netted bluegills to the lake. Mix the fish in the lake. Take a second sample. Record the numbers and do a second calculation.
9. Compare the two calculations. Why are there differences?
10. The final step is to do an actual count of the number of bluegills in your lake. What is the difference between your calculations and the actual number? Why is there a difference?
11. Complete the “Thinking about the Fish Survey” section.
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Thinking about the Fish Survey |
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1. This was a challenging activity. |
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2. This was an enjoyable activity. |
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3. This activity helped me understand what I am good at and not so good at. |
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| 4. This activity helped me think about protecting fish and wildlife? |
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5. What did you specifically like or dislike about this activity?
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6 Would you be interested in doing fish and wildlife surveys? Determining conditions that might affect the number of fish or wild animals? Studying fish and wildlife habitat? Enforcing laws that protect fish and wildlife? |
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Explain why you are interested or not interested in these options.
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Save these thoughts in your career portfolio. In the future, review your responses and consider if your interests and preferences have changed. Do you still have the same attitude about the testing cookies project? What has stayed the same or changed and why?
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Fish Survey Data Collection
Fish and Game Wardens conducting the survey _____________________________ ____________________________________________________________ |
| Estimate of the bluegill population Number of bluegills tagged
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Sample # 1
Total number of bluegills in the net |
| Number of tagged bluegills in the net |
| Population calculated using the formula |
Sample # 2
Total number of bluegills in the net |
| Number of tagged bluegills in the net |
| Population calculated using the formula |
Population Formula
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Total fish in trap net that are tagged X Total fish in trap net |
Population = |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Total tagged fish in net |
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| Actual Count |
Total number of bluegills in the lake ______________________ |
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