| The study of fisheries resources in a high school environmental science course poses many challenges to the educational professional. While many students are familiar with fish through personal experiences of recreational angling, some lack those experiences entirely. Of those that have fished, scientific knowledge concerning the environmental factors that contribute to the success of a fish species' survival in various aquatic environments is often limited. Students may know how they can catch a fish from a body of water, but cannot identify the major components of fish habitat, life cycles or differences among individual species. This thesis unit addresses these problems in student knowledge and understanding of fisheries resources by providing opportunities to closely study a small pond and its fish population.Students worked in cooperative groups to explore various pond habitats. They captured, measured, determined age and growth rates of fish and assessed the overall population of a small recreational fishing pond in their local school district. Assuming the role of a team of pond fishery consultants, they presented the results of their findings in a report to the pond's owners and all students learn that there is a great deal more affecting the survival of a fish population in a pond than they have previously considered. |
