What is happening to the Rusty Patched Bumblebee?
RPB has lost 90% of it’s range in the last 20 years. Today it is the first native pollinator to be placed on the endangered species list. Why is this happening? Should you care? Do you want to do something about it?
This engaging Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES) unit is for those who may not need - or want - our full NGSS Grade 9-12 version. In this shorter version your students will dive into the latest data on climate, pesticide use and land use and consider the possible role of bee pathogens as they seek to understand RPB’s plight. Then they will construct their own model of the situation, connect the data to the larger ecological context, engage family in the conversation and consider actions they may want to take to help.
We often hear in the news and on the internet that bees are disappearing from our ecosystems. Using the provided materials you will investigate the decline of the population of one such species of bee--The Rusty Patched Bumblebee. In following these steps you will figure out how this bumblebee species functions in the ecosystem, use evidence to try to explain why it is disappearing, and potentially be a part of the solution to save this native pollinator from extinction.
Step 1: Meet RPB
Watch this video ( 2 mins.).
Use Bumblebee Watch to explore Bombus affinis
Step 2: Why are RPB disappearing?
Brainstorm possible reasonings the RPB population is declining.
Share those ideas with the class. As you share, explain how these may cause the population to decline.
Step 3: The life of RPB
Read this “All About RPB”.
Read this US Fish and Wildlife document
Make a model to show the components in the RPB ecosystem and how they interact.
Step 4: Explore the data using this document
Look at Illinois temperature, precipitation, pesticide use and land use data and record patterns and affects
Consider the theory of a possible role of pathogens described in this Xerces Society article
Interview adults about changes in climate and land.
Step 5: Make your argument
Read this short Engaging In Argument From Evidence document and then using the data and your model make an argument about what is causing the RPB population to decline.
Share arguments with class.
Step 6: How will you help?
Blog post to educate the public.
Action Project
Personal reflection: What can you do as an individual to help RPB and similar, local, endangered species?
Thanks to Cole Lanham (New Trier High School) for teaching us how to make this 3 period (or so) APES version!