Through a simulation, sampling, and estimation activity, students learn about the impact of purple loosestrife on a wet land due to its exponential growth. They learn about purple loosestrife’s life cycle and appreciate how scientists determine population size in an ecosystem.
Objectives:
- Recognize purple loosestrife and tell how the seeds are dispersed.
- Describe that purple loosestrife produces over 2 million seeds and have a concept of how much that really is.
- Determine the population of purple loosestrife seeds for their wetland ecosystem through sampling.