Ecology Field Study
*** This document is also on my website under Ecology Powerpoints and Files
You will be assigned a quadrant on campus. For two days you will observe many relationships between biotic and abiotic factors. Magnifying glasses and cups for temporary collection of small organisms will be provided. Use rules for scientific writing when completing your project (available on my website under Miscellaneous Files if you cannot find your handout). Through your two-day observation you will accomplish the following:
1) Cover Page, with participants’ names, and quadrant number.
2) Table of Contents. Number your pages.
3) Type the Questions with Answers (number, type, and respond in complete sentences)
4) Draw a Food Chain or Food Pyramid Using Organisms you Observed (use good artwork or pictures). Label/name the organisms in the food chain or food pyramid.
5) Draw a Food Web (use the same guidelines as above) Label/name the organisms.
6) Draw your quadrant. A good quality drawing is important.
7) Label all the organisms in your quadrant (on the drawing) and list three biotic factors (other than plants) and three abiotic factors.
8) List all the plants in your quadrant, pictures of the plants, and at least three characteristics; most should be from your own observations.
9) List all insects/invertebrates (ex: earthworm) observed, pictures of the insects/invertebrates, their scientific names, and their characteristics. Most should be from your own observations AND NOT COPIED FROM THE INTERNET. The scientific names should be underlined and the genus name capitalized. Ex: Sequoia sempervirens
10) List all participants and a list of their responsibilities in the field study.
You will be allowed to view samples in my classroom of plants and trees on the Esperanza campus. The names will be provided. By observing these samples you are to identify the plants found in your quadrant. I will also bring in local field guides to the various types of insects found in Southern California so that you can determine which insects were in your quadrant and their scientific names. There are also sample completed ecology projects available in the classroom for you to observe.
This is the order in which you should submit your field study in a small folder or binder:
1) Colorful Cover Page With Your Names and Quadrant Number
2) Table of Contents
3) Answers to Questions (type the question with the answer)
4) Food Chain or Food Pyramid (good quality drawings or pictures) – label/name the organisms
5) Food Web (good quality drawings or pictures) – label/name the organisms
6) Quadrant Drawing – include labeled organisms, biotic factors, and abiotic factors
7) Plant List, Pictures, and Characteristics
8) Insect/Invertebrate List, Pictures, and Characteristics
9) Responsibility Page
** Here is a suggestion to balance the responsibilities:
One person does:
Colorful Cover Page
Table of Contents
Quadrant Drawing
One person does:
Food Chain or Food Pyramid (good quality drawings or pictures)
Food Web (good quality drawings or pictures)
One person does:
Answers to Questions (type the question with the answer)
Responsibility Page
One person does:
Plant List and characteristics
Invertebrate/Insect List including common and scientific names and characteristics
Please type the question and your response on a separate piece of paper. Number each question and respond in a complete sentence. You may find answers and help in Chapters 3-5 of your textbook.
1) What quadrant number were you assigned?
2) On what part of the Esperanza campus is your quadrant located?
3) Describe your quadrant thoroughly. (Include temperature, soil texture, ground cover, abiotic and biotic factors involved, such as amount of sunlight that it receives throughout the day, etc)
4) Does your quadrant appear to be well cared for or maintained?
5) Determine the temperature in the shade and in full sun.
6) How might temperature differences affect biotic and abiotic factors?
7) List three biotic factors in your quadrant.
8) List three abiotic factors in your quadrant.
9) List all the producers.
10) List all the consumers.
11) What decomposers are present in your quadrant?
12) What biotic factors affect the quadrant?
13) What abiotic factors affect the quadrant?
14) Identify any insects observed. Use the guides available to you if necessary.
15) Is there immigration or emigration occurring in your quadrant?
16) Did you observe predation in your quadrant? If so, what were the organisms?
17) Did you observe parasitism in your quadrant? If so, what were the organisms?
18) Did you observe any abiotic/abiotic, biotic/biotic, or abiotic/biotic interactions in your quadrant?
19) What type of pioneer species does your quadrant have?
20) Do you think that succession has occurred recently? Why?
21) Is there any part of any biogeochemical cycle (cycle of matter) that recently occurred? If so, which cycle or what part of the cycle?
22) If you were to compare your quadrant with a biome, what biome does your quadrant represent the most and why?
23) Comment on any unusual observation or occurrence that you saw or experienced any time during this study.
24) Comment on a positive or negative experience that you and your group would like to add about this project. Be clear.