Case Studies in Earth & Environmental Science
Zebra Mussel Invasion.
Questions to Ponder and Discuss
A BIG GENERAL THEME: Keep in mind this and the shark study. What are
the positive and negative effects of 'scare tactics' employed by journalists/environmentalists/industry
etc? What might be more effective? How can we responsibly depict issues in which
data is often absent, scarce, anecdotal, or in flux, without feeding distrust
of the scientific community? Also, in this study, do you think any of the authors
play on what might be the general xenophobia of the public? What about the general
fascination with apocalyptic events? How might these effect actions?
IN THE END: Who is more convincing, the apocalypse prophesiers, or those
who consider the issue to be overstated? Sit back for a second. In what priority
level would you rank zebra mussel control compared to, say, gathering shark
attack data? ANWR? Exploring Europa? Funding public schools?..etc. etc. How
can we work to make readers able to categorize a problem appropriately? Why
was that attempt often failed at with regard to sharks? In the end, where is
the zebra mussel problem in your mind, and what facts, stories, quotes most
influenced your image of the issue?
- I included the Sports Illustrated Table of Contents and the advertisements
that were in the SI article. How does this article fit in?
- The Associated Press articles in the SF Chronicle are years apart but seem
to focus on containment rather than damage done. Why could this be? Why would
this be published preferentially in San Francisco?
- What are the pros and cons of using the economic argument versus the danger
to biological diversity argument in pointing out the seriousness of zebra
- Note Oct. 1990 S.F. Chronicle. Just continue to keep containment issues
in mind for the interview.
- (1990 NY Times) People reproduce by the millions too. The previous article
said that each mussel can lay 40,000 eggs. Of course enough 40,000's added
up will be millions, but so will enough 1's or 2's. What is the author trying
to do here?
- Consider the JAWS illusion in the above article. Why would "Stephen
King love this thing"?
- Note Dec. 1990 New York Times. How can we use the reporting of honest mistakes
made by scientists to give the public a better sense of the scientific process
rather than to create distrust of the often aloof scientific community?
- The Nov./Dec. 1990 EPA Journal article starts much further back in terms
of scientific background. This might be a valuable chance to give readership
a much more full view of the situation. Does it work?
- In May 1992 Christian Science Monitor, what do you think about the approach
of telling the story through one interesting person?
- At the end of NY Times Dec 1992, whose consent may add great credibility
to the chlorine argument in the eyes of most readers?
- 1994 High Country News only makes a passing mention of mussels, but the
article as a whole tries to make an argument that is very difficult to make
convincingly to a general readership, but also very critical at times. Sometimes
the "ecosystem-messenger" and "aesthetic" arguments may
be the only left to us in some situations. What can be done to make those
arguments work? (Kristen and David maybe consider the Bentham/Pieta article
from Env. Reporting. Matt, I'm sure there are plenty of conservation articles
that you could bring to the table.)
- In NY Times July 1993, do you like the strategy of calming the reader by
noting that zebra mussels can't spread to salt-water, but then immediately
turning around and challenging that?
- In many articles, take April 1994 Trailer Boats for example, a reader can
begin to get lost amidst a flurry of numbers. Perhaps, even the sight of many
numbers in an article can lead to skimming. What can a writer do to make numbers
- In April 1994 Trailer Boats, there are relatively few quotes in the article
and none near the beginning. How does this affect the article?
- How does the above article appeal to its particular readership in its background
- Later in the same article, the author sometimes says what the quote will
say right before putting the quote in. What do you think about this strategy?
- The lede in 1994 Field and Stream uses the form of a well-known joke opening.
Is this strategy effective? Or just distracting?
- In the same article, is the quote that is a paragraph all to itself awkward?
- Which is more effective, the Field and Stream or Trailer Boats article?
- Also in that article, how do you feel about the random sentence "they
cannot live in saltwater"? This is an extremely important point, but
is totally glanced over here.
- The above article talks about control measures. This is Dr. Molloy's specialty,
but it seems he is more a proponent of biological rather than chemical control.
Think about the important issues involved, and what you would want to investigate
in presenting them to a reader.
- Peruse May 1995 Popular Science, what do you think about the alien/apocalypse
technique? There may be a very fine line between effectiveness, and overboard.
What might contribute to each? Think back to the excerpt from T. Rex and the
Crater of Doom.
- In Omni 1995, why, on the second page, is that particular quote enlarged?
Also, could the "chicken feed" idea be a tip for an interesting
story? Would you like to see it explored more? How effective is mentioning
a brand new idea in the kicker?
- Keeping the same article in mind, when it is helpful or harmful to use first-person
narrative? (Kristen and David maybe think about the <emti> vs. <ekti>
comparison that Rivlin gave for anthropological writing. Matt, maybe think
about what works related to biology have influenced you most. Have they often
been personal accounts of experience? When has that been/not been effective
in your experience?)
- There are no quotes in this article, but I personally liked it very much.
The idea that clearing the water gave too great an advantage to a particular
predator may be a really interesting point on many levels for readers not
accustomed to considering biological systems. What, in the absence of quotes,
makes this article work? Or does it work at all for you?
- Does the brief mention of the tugboat operator add to the story?
- What's the biggest difference between the Outdoor Life articles and the
Feb. 1994 Field and Stream article? Why might this be?
- The Dec. 1993 USA Today article may raise some interesting points for the
interview with Dr. Molloy. What do you think about controlling an invasive
species with another nonnative species? Chemicals? Does the article do a good
job in getting across the complexities that need be considered in such an
issue? Why or why not? Also, if we could see the picture, what kind of impact
do you think it might have?
- What is something the 1996 Outdoor Life article tries to do that none of
the previous articles did? Do you like the kicker in this article?
- June 1995 Field and Stream is an example of personal narrative. Does it
work here? Why or why not?
- Isn't the 1998 Univ. of Illinois article really boring?.
- What do you think about the pictures in the Island Press article from earthscape.org?
- The Oct. 1999 Sci. American online article has a totally different form.
How do you feel about it in terms of simply laying all the information out
versus the writer attempting to tell the story without subsections?
- Is the magnitude analogy at the start of Earth Focus 1994 effective? What
might you have used?
- Compare the 1996/1997 Earth Island Journal article to others that claim
the zebra mussel problem is overstated?
Ludyanskiy, Michael L., Derek McDonald and David MacNeill, 1993. Impact of
the Zebra Mussel, a Bivalve Invader: Dreissena polymorpha is rapidly colonizing
hard surfaces throughout waterways of the United States and Canada. Bioscience,
Berkman, Paul Arthur et. al. 1998. Zebra Mussels invade Lake Erie muds. Nature,
Molloy, Daniel P. 1998. The Potential for Using Biological Control Technologies
in the Management of Dreissena SPP. J. Shellfish Research, 17(1): 177-183..
Boyle, Robert H. 1990. In Shock Over Shells. Sports Illustrated, 73(16):
Ward, Janet, 1992. Attack of the Zebra Mussel!. The American City &
County; Pittsfield, 107(12): 30-35.
Yount, David, 1990. The Eco-Invaders. EPA Journal, 16(6): 51-53.
Davis, R.G. 1996-97. In Defense of the Zebra Mussel. Earth Island Journal,
Winter 1996/1997: 32-33.
Mondy, Marvin, 1994. Measuring the Effects of Invasion: The Zebra Mussel. Earth
Focus Website: http://www.rice.edu/armadillo/Projects/Ecodillo/Earthfocus/Fall94/zebra.htm.
Chou, P.Y. 1999. What is the current status of the ‘invasion' of
non-native zebra mussels in the Great Lakes? Has the invasion been stopped or
controlled? And what ecological damage has this creature caused other than the
clogging of drainage pipes? ScientificAmerican.com.
(answer to question posted Oct. 21, 1999).
Leutwyler, Kristin, 2001. Radio Waves Capable of Killing Off Pesky Zebra Mussels.
Unknown. (Question 7 answer from “An Exotic Species Quiz”). http://www.sierraclub.org/killerbees/question7_answer.asp.
Wilson, E.O. and Dan L. Perlman, 2000. Conserving Earth's Biodiversity.
Haverson, Guy, 1992. The Man Who Watches Buffalo's Water. Christian
Science Monitor, Wed. May 27, 1992: p. 8.
Associated Press, 1992. Blue Crabs May be Used to Control Zebra Mussels. San
Francisco Chronicle, Wed. March 4, 1992: p. A5.
Associated Press, 1990. African Plant Could Stop a Harmful Mussel. San
Francisco Chronicle, Sat. Oct. 20, 1990: p. A12.
Kelly, Sean, 1990. Congress Tries to Tackle the Zebra Mussel. San Francisco
Chronicle, March 17, 1990: p. A7.
Associated Press, 2001. Zebra Mussels are Dying. The Capital Times
(Madison, WI), Oct. 24, 2001: p. 12D.
Associated Press, 2001. Zebra Mussels Portrayed as River Villains They've
Improved Fishing by Clearing the Water in the Mississippi, but They're
a Menace to Other Aquatic Life, Expert Says. Wisconsin State, Wed.
April 4, 2001: p. B1.
Schmidt, William E, 1990. Lakes Stir with Fears of Mollusk. New York Times,
Dec. 3, 1990: p. A16.
Feron, James, 1990. Hudson Mussel is Not a Zebra, Experts Decide. New York
Times, Dec. 1, 1990: p. 28.
Charlebois, Pat, 1998. Zebra Mussel in Illinois Inland Lake Threaten Other
Waterways. Aces News - University of Illinois, April 2, 1998.
Beattie, Mollie, 1994. Why Care About a Snail the Size of Pinhead? High
Country News 26(2).
Unkown?? 1995. Pepacton Reservois: Big Apple Browns. Field and Stream
100(2): p. 81.
Ryan, Will, 1996. Shell Shockers. Outdoor Life. New York, Aug. 1996
198(2): p. 8.
Janowski, Pat, 1995. The Redeeming Qualities of Zebra Mussels (Continuum Section).
Omni. New York, Winter 1995 17(9): p. 23.
Newsview Section. Chinese Black Carp vs. Zebra Mussel. USA Today.
New York, Dec. 1993 122(2583): p. 9.
Perich, Shawn, 1998. Mussel-ing In. Outdoor Life (Regional News Section).
New York, Dec. 1997 / Jan. 1998 200(5): p. 100.
Marshall, Bob, 1994. Mussel Poses No Reason to Panic: Zebras' Southern
Stampede. Field and Stream. LA, Feb. 1994 98(10): p. 65.
States News Service, 1992. In the War Against Zebra Mussels, the Front is Getting
Closer. New York Times, Dec. 6, 1992: p. WC1.
Saslow, Linda, 1993. Will the Zebra Mussels Invade L.I.? New York Times,
Jul. 11, 1993: p. LI8.
Jaquette, Leslee, 1994. Zebra Mussels: How Serious a Threat? Trailer Boats,
Apr. 1994 23(4): p. 70.
McCosh, Dan, 1995. Aliens Among Us. Popular Science. New York, May
1995 246(5): p. 94.
Cohen, Jon, 1994. Flood Flexes its Mussels. Science. Washington, March
4, 1994 263(5151): p. 1226
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