Field Study - Describe and Evaluate A Local Ecosystem
In this project you will engage in real field work. You will observe and collect data to describe an ecosystem in detail. This project will last the entire unit and you will add to it as we progress. You will create a web page to present this work. (Watch this video on how to create a googlesites web page ). I would like for you to include pictures and/or video to support your data collection.
Describe a local ecosystem. Make sure the boundaries are clear and easy to delineate. For example, you could use your backyard, the park around the corner or a local pond. You will have to spend time out in this environment collecting data so make sure you pick somewhere accessible.
Part 1: The basics
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch this video: Introduction to Ecology Part 1
Task #1: Identify and describe your chosen ecosystem.
Part 2: Signs of Change?
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch this video: part 2 of Ecology Introduction
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
Part 3: Population Demographics
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch these videos: Population Ecology 1 and Population Ecology 2
Read this article about how to conduct research in the field
Read this sample fieldwork lab
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
Part 4: Community Interactions
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
Part 5: Energy Flow
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch this video: Ecosystems: Energy Flow
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
Part 6: Nutrient Cycling Flow
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch this video: Ecosystems 2: Nutrient Cycling
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
Part 7: Human Impact
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch these videos:
Al Gore on averting climate crisis (TED 16 min)
Jonathan Foley: "The Other Inconvenient Truth" (TED 18min)
Capt. Charles Moore on the seas of plastic (TED 7.5 min)
Yann Arthus-Bertrand captures fragile Earth in wide-angle (TED 15 min)
Eben Bayer: Are mushrooms the new plastic? (TED 9min)
optional How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth (Full Documentary 48min)
Bjarke Ingels: 3 warp-speed architecture tales (Eco-Architecture) (TED 18min)
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
Final reflection: On your webpage I would like you to write a final reflection paper. Consider the following questions.
In this project you will engage in real field work. You will observe and collect data to describe an ecosystem in detail. This project will last the entire unit and you will add to it as we progress. You will create a web page to present this work. (Watch this video on how to create a googlesites web page ). I would like for you to include pictures and/or video to support your data collection.
Describe a local ecosystem. Make sure the boundaries are clear and easy to delineate. For example, you could use your backyard, the park around the corner or a local pond. You will have to spend time out in this environment collecting data so make sure you pick somewhere accessible.
Part 1: The basics
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch this video: Introduction to Ecology Part 1
Task #1: Identify and describe your chosen ecosystem.
- Give a basic description - For example your backyard, local park, or nearby pond.
- What type of Biome is it a part of?
- Identify as many separate populations of living things in the community as you can. It must include at least one animal speciesand one plant species. Provide pictures. You may have to do some research to determine the names of the species you observe.
- Describe the abiotic factors that impact the environment. Be complete and detailed in how they impact.
Part 2: Signs of Change?
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch this video: part 2 of Ecology Introduction
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
- Define and differentiate between Primary and Secondary Succession
- Describe the stages of ecological succession
- Define and differentiate between Eutrophic and Oligotrophic lakes
- describe the stages of lake death
- Based on your observations can you suggest how your ecosystem came to be as it is today?
- Use ideas of succession to describe where you ecosystem is in the process?
- What evidence is there to support your claims? Types of species? Environmental history?
- What if anything do you suspect will happen in the future? Why?
Part 3: Population Demographics
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch these videos: Population Ecology 1 and Population Ecology 2
Read this article about how to conduct research in the field
Read this sample fieldwork lab
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
- Define demographics, carrying capacity, r-selected, k-selected, density dependent factors, density independent factors, Type I, II, and III survivorship curves.
- Describe the different patterns of dispersion and what influences them
- Calculate the rate of growth for a population.
- Determine the factors that influence the carrying capacity for a particular ecosystem and how the carrying capacity affects the rate of growth.
- Estimate the Population Size. Describe you method of data collection and show your data. Do you suspect this population size may be changing? Why? Form a hypothesis to suggest what limiting factors are influencing the growth of these populations. Are these density dependent factors or density independent factors?
- How could you determine the extent of the change in the population size? (you will check this at the end of the project)
- What patterns of dispersion do you observe? Form a hypothesis to explain these observed patterns.
- Are your populations R-selected or K-selected?
- Do your populations exhibit a type I, II, or III survivorship curve? Give evidence?
Part 4: Community Interactions
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
- Watch the two videos below: Community Ecology 1 and Community Ecology 2
- Read this article: Resource Partitioning and Why It Matters
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
- Define niche and differentiate between potential niche and realized niche.
- Define the competitive exclusion principle and resource partitioning.
- Describe the 6 different types of species interactions
- Differentiate between intra-specific and inter-specific competition.
- Define keystone species, invasive species, coevolution,
- Define and differentiate between cryptic coloration and aposematic coloration.
- Define and differentiate between Mullerian and Batesian Mimicry.
- Pick two easily identifiable populations within your ecosystem (one plant and one animal) and describe their niches. What habitat and role do they fill? What resources do they use and/or provide?
- What interactions between species can be observed in the community? Find and document examples.
- Can you observe any apparent evidence of resource partitioning within your ecosystem? describe and document (pictures).
- Can any species be identified as a keystone species? If so what is the keystone species and how does it fill this role?
- Are there any obvious invasive species? If so how did they get there and what impact are they having? Show evidence.
- Do you see any evidence of co-evolution? If so, describe and document.
- Can you find examples of either cryptic coloration or aposematic coloration in your ecosystem? If so describe and document (take pictures).
- Can you find examples of mimicry in your ecosystem? If so describe and document (take pictures).
Part 5: Energy Flow
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch this video: Ecosystems: Energy Flow
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
- Define and differentiate between Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers
- Describe a typical food chain/web - identifying the trophic levels
- Describe and explain a pyramid of energy and a pyramid of numbers and how they are related.
- Define and give an example of biological magnification
- Identify the producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, and decomposers in your ecosystem
- Create a graphic representation of the flow of energy through your system. See if you can compile any data to show a correspondingpyramid of numbers.
- Can you find any evidence of biological magnification in your ecosystem? If so, try to describe and document.
Part 6: Nutrient Cycling Flow
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch this video: Ecosystems 2: Nutrient Cycling
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
- Define the following terms: Fixation, Assimilation, decomposition, reservoir, limiting factor
- Identify the main elements of the Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, Phosphorous Cycle, and water cycle
- Using specific organisms from your ecosystem. Make sure to explain what role the organism plays in the cycle.
Part 7: Human Impact
Prior to beginning this section you need to:
Watch these videos:
Al Gore on averting climate crisis (TED 16 min)
Jonathan Foley: "The Other Inconvenient Truth" (TED 18min)
Capt. Charles Moore on the seas of plastic (TED 7.5 min)
Yann Arthus-Bertrand captures fragile Earth in wide-angle (TED 15 min)
Eben Bayer: Are mushrooms the new plastic? (TED 9min)
optional How Many People Can Live on Planet Earth (Full Documentary 48min)
Bjarke Ingels: 3 warp-speed architecture tales (Eco-Architecture) (TED 18min)
Work on your note packets
Make sure you can:
- Define the following terms: Bio-magnification, Greenhouse effect, global warming, acid rain, ozone, deforestation, overpopulation, urban sprawl, pollution
- Identify the major sources of human impact on the environment
- Identify and give evidence of two specific examples of human impact on your ecosystem.
- Discuss how these impacts are changing the ecosystem and what the long term effects may be.
- Suggest ways to reduce this impact.
Final reflection: On your webpage I would like you to write a final reflection paper. Consider the following questions.
- What did you learn about conducting field work?
- How do you now understand the interconnection between the living and physical worlds?
- How do you know understand the interconnection between living things?
- What questions do you have about sustainability?
- How do you look at the living world differently?
- Are you inspired to make different choices to affect your impact on the environment? Such as?