Windshield phenomenon

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/windshield-phenomenon

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the observation period?Noticed globally since the early 2000s
2. What is the primary manifestation?Significant reduction in insect remains on vehicle exteriors (windshields, bumpers)
3. Why are there fewer bugs on car windows now?Because insect populations have dropped, so fewer insects hit cars and die on the glass.
4. How does the windshield phenomenon show that insects are in trouble?The clean windows act as a simple sign that many insects are missing, hinting at a bigger problem with insect health worldwide.

Windshield phenomenon: An observable decrease in insect remains on vehicle windshields, serving as an indicator of declining insect populations.
Insect biodiversity: The variety of insect species present in an ecosystem, crucial for ecological stability and resilience.
Keystone species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, playing a critical role in ecosystem structure.
Anthropogenic: Originating in human activity or human-influenced processes.