Biology Module 1 - Macroplastics
- Instructor Prep: 2 hours | Seminar: 1 class slot
- Keywords: Macroplastics | Entanglement | Ingestion | Chronic exposure | Acute exposure | Lethal and Sublethal effects
INTRODUCTION
This is the first module for the Biology section of Unplastic. It focuses on Macroplastics and includes an in-class activity. The guide and activity are designed to be used in tandem with the slides available on this website. The slides include ample supplemental information for each section in the presenter’s notes.
In this module, we explore how wildlife and macroplastics interact in numerous ways. We showcase different types of interactions (entanglement and ingestion), examine the difference between acute and chronic exposure, and discuss lethal and sublethal effects. We also discuss examples of proposed solutions to ocean macroplastic pollution and assess the strengths and weaknesses of one of these solutions through a debate. In this module, we address the following key questions: How are marine and terrestrial wildlife impacted by macroplastics? How does macroplastic pollution interact with wildlife? What kind of effects can be observed in animals?
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the module, students are able to:
- Understand the impact of macroplastic pollution on wildlife
- Describe the types of interactions between macroplastics and wildlife (entanglement, ingestion).
- Discuss the different types of exposure (acute, chronic) in the context of macroplastics and wildlife.
- Discuss the different types of effects (lethal, sublethal) that macroplastics have on wildlife.