Designing Your Island Ecosystem

Transcription

1 Lesson 10.2 Designing Your Island Ecosystem Name Date Period Project Description: In this lesson your will design your island ecosystem. Lesson 10.2 will be worth 20 points and this project will replace a test for this unit and it will be worth 100 points. This island ecosystem will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of ecosystems and it will also be your last opportunity to work with your critter. In designing your island ecosystem you will need to focus on each of the following factors. Each of these factors will also contribute to your overall grade for the project as seen on your project rubric: 1. Your island s abiotic factors (Questions A-D) 2. Diagrams and descriptions of your invented organisms (Question E) 3. Food web and energy pyramid (Questions F and G) 4. Description of the normal ecosystem function (Questions H-K) 5. Impact of a major disaster on your island (Questions L-N) You may choose to work with a partner on this project. A suggestion for splitting the work between you and your partner would be to have one person construct the 3-D island and the other individual can prepare the information (graphs and paragraphs) that will need to be attached to the poster. Requirement 1: Abiotic Factors: In this part, you will explore options for four abiotic factors that will affect your island. You will determine how your island was formed, the biome on your island, average temperature, and average precipitation on your island. Each of these factors and graphs must be included on your final project. A. Island Formation Type 1: Mainland Isolation Islands can become isolated from larger land masses due to rising water levels. There are peaks and valleys on the earth's surface. Long ago, the oceans were much shallower because a vast amount of water was frozen in the earth's polar ice caps. As the polar caps melted, the sea level rose, and water covered up the lower areas of land or "land bridge" between the higher areas of land. Therefore, the island was isolated from the larger land mass. Type 2: Plate Movement Some islands are pieces of continental crust that have broken off of a large land mass and drifted out to sea. Type 3: Reefs Some islands are created by living organisms that begin to grow on the submerged portion of a larger land mass, usually a volcanic island. The skeletons of these organisms (mostly corals) grow together and get bigger and bigger until they rise above the water's surface and form a coral reef. There are various types of reefs, including "barrier reefs" (which grow further out from land and create a barrier to a larger island), "fringing reefs" (which fringe the ring of an island's shoreline), and "atoll" (which are formed when the island land mass sinks, but the reef continues to grow and remains above the surface.) Ireland Madagascar Bermuda * New Zealand * Manhattan * The British Isles * Trinidad * Cuba * New Caledonia * Madagascar * The Florida Keys * The Great Barrier Reef * Bermuda Type 4: Volcanic Activity Islands can also be formed by volcanic activity. Explain that volcanoes exist underwater, as well as on land. As they erupt, the material in the lava flows can accumulate higher and higher until the surface of the volcano rises above water. This is the most common way that islands are formed. A. 1. Choose one of the types of ways islands are formed from above. This will be how your island was formed. B. 2. Briefly describe in your own words how your island was formed. Hawaii * The Hawaiian Islands * Japan * The Philippines B. Biome You will need to decide on the general climate of your island. The climate will have a significant impact on the adaptations and appearance of your critter and organisms. Look at your critter and your partner s critter. Choose a biome that could support either your critter, your partner s critter, or both of your critters. Your biome must be suitable for your critters. 3. Consider where on the planet your island will be located. Place a big X on the map on the right to identify where your island is approximately located in the world. C. 4. Based on the location of your island and on your critter, assign a reasonable biome.

2 C. Precipitation 5. What is the range of rainfall for your biome? If your biome type is not on the graph, refer to lesson 10.1 to getter a better idea of the average rainfall for your biome. D. 6. Draw a bar or a line graph in the first blank graph at the end of the lesson to illustrate the average monthly rainfall for your island. This graph will need to be cut out and pasted onto your final project. Take your time and create a well constructed graph. D. Temperature 7. What is the temperature range for your biome? If your biome type is not on the graph, refer to lesson 10.1 to getter a better idea of the average rainfall for your biome. E. 8. Draw a bar or a line graph in the second blank graph at the end of the lesson to illustrate the average monthly temperature for your island. This graph will need to be cut out and pasted onto your final project. Take your time and create a well constructed graph. Requirement 2: Diagram and Description of Invented Organisms: Your ecosystem must include four organisms with adaptations that are appropriate for their environment. These organisms include a producer (autotroph), 1 st level consumer (herbivore), 2 nd level consumer (carnivore), and a decomposer (detrivore). In the process of designing your organisms, you should consider some of the plant and animal adaptations that are already found in your island biome. E. Using the information in the previous table create the unique species that populate your island. Record that information in the table below. Make sure to include either your or your partner s critters! Invented Organisms Invented Organism Name Invented Organism Adaptations (name at least three and their purpose) Sketch of Invented Organism Producer 1 st Level Consumer 2 nd Level Consumer Decomposer

3 Requirement 3: Food Web and Energy Pyramid: Create a food web and food pyramid for the four critters on your island. Be sure to record the direction of matter and energy transfer in the food web, the relative amounts of matter and energy in the food pyramid, the loss of heat energy to the external environment, and the cycling of matter. F. 9. Food Web G. 10. Energy Pyramid (Label each trophic level and give an example of an organism on your island for each level. Be sure to also indicate areas where energy enters and exits the ecosystem.) Requirement 4: Natural Ecosystem Function: In this section you will discuss the relationships between key members of the ecosystem and the state of balance that exists between the populations. H. 11. Discuss the relationship between your producers and first level consumers on the island. Be sure to mention their relative numbers in relation to each other. I. 12. Discuss the relationship between your first level and second level consumers. Be sure to mention their relative numbers in relation to each other. J. 13. Discuss the relationship of your decomposers with all other organisms on your island. K. 14. Choose a predator-prey relationship that exists on your island. On the third blank graph at the back of this lesson, graph the probable population fluctuations that you would observe over a 100 year period. Be sure to use different colors to represent the predator and prey species. This graph will need to be cut out and pasted onto your final project. Take your time and create a well-constructed graph. Requirement 5: Impact of Natural Disasters on your Island Ecosystem Select one disaster from the list below. Desired disaster: L. 15. Record the disaster in the space on the right. A huge storm or fire devastates your population of producers. Humans decide to turn part of your island into a vacation resort. A disease ravages your top consumers leaving only a few alive on your island. A rapid change in climate (increase or decrease in temperature, rainfall, wind, etc.) occurs. A new species of primary consumers invades your island. It reproduces faster and eats your producers more efficiently than the native primary consumers. It has defense adaptations that make it less vulnerable to your top consumers. M. 16. Describe the impact of the event on your ecosystem. Be sure to address which species will be affected the most from this disaster and how this impacts all other species on the island. N. 22. Draw a bar graph of the total number of organisms on your island before the disaster, just after the disaster, and 10 years after the disaster.

4 Island Ecosystem Project 100 points Example Layout of Project Your task is to create a poster that describes a stable island ecosystem that you invent. Your poster must have these features: 1. A painted / textured styrofoam or cardboard 3-D model of your island. 2. A description of the abiotic factors. (Parts A-D) 3. Diagram and descriptions of invented organisms. (Part E) 4. A food web and energy pyramid showing the relationships between these organisms. (Parts F and G) 5. A description of how the ecosystem normally functions. (Parts H-K) 6. A description of the impact a disaster on your island ecosystem (Parts L-N) **NOTE: ITEMS 2-6 MUST BE ON THE POSTER. Scoring Rubric Our Score Scoring Area Island Model Exceeds Standards (A B) pts. Model is three-dimensional. At least 3 types of terrain features shown (valleys, hills, water, vegetation). Model is consistent with biome type. Meets Standards (C) pts. Model is three-dimensional. Only 2 types of terrain features shown. Model is somewhat consistent with biome type. Approaches Standards (D- F) 9-0 pts. Model may or may not be threedimensional. Few terrain features shown. Model may or may not be consistent with biome type. Abiotic Factors All abiotic factors (island formation, type of biome, annual precipitation, and annual temperature) are described in written format. Excellent graphs showing annual temperature and precipitation Some of the abiotic factors are described in written format. One or both graphs showing temperature and precipitation Few abiotic factors described. Graphs showing annual precipitation and temperature may or may not be present. Diagrams and Descriptions of Invented Organisms Well crafted diagrams of all invented organisms (producer, first level consumer, second level consumer, and decomposer) present on poster. Each invented organism has a clear description of 3 the adaptations and role within the ecosystem. The poster shows basic diagrams of invented organisms. General description of each organism included with less than 3 adaptations mentioned. Weak diagrams of invented organisms. Little to no description of organisms or adaptations Adaptations illogical. Food Web and Energy Pyramid Feeding relationships accurately displayed in a well-crafted food web. Energy flow in ecosystem expertly portrayed in energy pyramid. Energy transfer into and out of the ecosystem is addressed. Basic feeding relationships and energy flow between organisms portrayed in food web and energy pyramid. Poorly constructed food web and energy pyramid may or may not be Description of Normal Ecosystem Function Written description clearly describes relationship between all members of the ecosystem. Predator-prey relationship addressed with a well written description and graph. Description describes relationship between most members of the ecosystem. Predator-prey relationship addressed with only a written description or graph. Little to no mention of ecological relationships. No discussion of predator prey relationship. Impact of Event on Ecosystem Clear description of disruptive event. Effect of event on all organism populations addressed. Excellent graph showing changes in total organism populations before, during and after disaster. Event is described. Effect of event on most organism populations addressed. Graoh showing population changes Little to no information about disaster included on poster. Graph showing population changes may or may not be Craftsmanship and Originality (10 pts) All written sections are easy to read, colorful and attractive. High degree of craftsmanship Written sections are neat and colorful diagrams show some effort. Little to no effort in creating project. Please let your instructor know of any special details or problems surrounding your project.

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