evaluate opposing viewpoints regarding the process called “Fishing Down the Marine Food Web.”
For this assignment, you will evaluate opposing viewpoints regarding the process called “Fishing Down the Marine Food Web.” You will research different sides and determine your educated opinion on whether or not fishing is contributing to an imbalance in marine ecosystems.
You will create a one-page infographic for an advanced high school science (AP) biology class to explain the complexities of this process. Your audience has a strong foundation in the sciences and is looking to your expertise as a graduate student to clarify what they have learned about the effects of commercial and recreational fishing thus far.
This assignment will help you understand how fishing can affect marine species and allow you to form an educated opinion on the process of “Fishing Down Marine Food Webs” based on your research.
The process of “Fishing Down Marine Food Webs” was first outlined in the paper below (recognize the lead author?). Please read the original journal article along with the brief chapter in your Vanishing Fish text:
Pauly, D., Christensen, V., Dalsgaard, J., Froese, R., & Torres, F. (1998). Fishing down marine food webs. Science , 279(5352), 860-863.
Textbook, Vanishing Fish (Pauly, 2019): Focusing One’s Microscope (chapter 15)
Then fully explore:
Dr. Daniel Pauly’s website: Sea Around Us Project: Fishing (Links to an external site.)
Dr. Ray Hilborn’s website: Fishing Down Marine Food Webs (Links to an external site.)
Research to find at least two additional sources to deepen your understanding of the concept of “Fishing Down Marine Food Webs”. Evaluate the different sources of information and determine your opinion based on your findings. Summarize what you learned and create a one-page infographic and address the following:
Explain the process of “Fishing Down the Food Web”
Describe the methods and findings of the original paper (Pauly et al., 1998)
Provide examples of species from both supporters and opponents of the concept
Discuss your science-based opinion, including whether or not you think “Fishing Down the Marine Food Web” is occurring (or has occurred)
Provide recommendations for fisheries management based on your opinion
Include photos and/or graphs to illustrate your position (there is no right or wrong here, but you must back up your position with references)
You may use a template to create your infographic. Adobe Spark has free infographic templates available here (Links to an external site.) . Use clear and concise language – an infographic should be easy to read and understand.
Remember your audience is in an advanced science class; you can (and should) use complex terms and concepts as long as you communicate them clearly.
The sections of your infographic should not exceed a total of 350 words. Remember to include your references (Pauly et al., 1998; the two websites; and at least two additional sources). Your peers will be able to see your infographic.
