APES PLACE PROJECT
A year-long integration of concepts with the place in which you will become an expert!
** Remember for each write up you want to include your references and cite sources as needed—Don’t plagiarize! It is OK to parenthetically cite most of your information.
(CH1) Pick an ecosystem (5 points)
Keep in mind which countries/nations could be included in this ecosystem. We will try to get a diverse set of biomes/aquatic systems represented.
□Find 5 good – science – resources start your bibliography (MLA format)
(CH 3) Map out the food web of the ecosystem.(10 points)
Try and extend it out to over 10 species. Make sure to have producers/autotrophs, primary consumers (herbivores and omnivores), secondary and beyond consumers (omnivores and carnivores), and at least 1 scavenger/detritusfeeder and 1 decomposer. Make sure all of your species are linked in. Also try and demonstrate species diversity (representatives from various phyla and classes- ie. fish, birds, reptiles, arthropods (insects), etc. -- not just mammals).
□You can create your map with any program you choose or by hand.
(CH 6) Which species in your food web are (20 points – can be in list form)
- r-selected a
- k-selected?
- Find an example of a mutualism or a commensalism on your foodweb. Describe the relationships
- Describe an example of a parasitism in your ecosystem
- What is the/a keystone species? Name (common and scientific) explain why it has this niche. What other species is it connected to. What might change if it was to become threatened or extinct?
- Are they also an ecosystem engineer? If not who would that be?
- Is there a specialist species on your food web? Would it be considered an indicator species?
- Give an example of interspecific competition and intraspecific competition in your ecosystem. Describe the relationship and how it might affect the fundamental versus realized niche of the species. Are there any adaptations to reduce the competition? Ie. Displays, resource partitioning, etc.
- Are there any adaptations that you researched that could be applied to the idea of biomimicry?
(CH 18) Are there any endangered species or threatened species in your ecosystem?(10 points)
□What is affecting this/these species? (think HIPPO)
□What are some invasive species which are affecting your ecosystem? (Were any of the species that you first put on your food chain non-native species?) Where are they from- is it a very similar ecosystem abiotically?
(CH 5) Select 5 of the species from your food web.(25 points)
□Describe their niche in ½-1 page… What adaptations do they have to survive and reproduce successfully? Keep on citing!
(CH 7) What are the main human populations near your ecosystem.(5 points)
□Is there a dense population or is there still a lot of wild area? Is the population in the area growing and impacting the ecosystem?
(CH 4) “Where in the World” (20 pts)
□Include a map (remember to cite sources! parenthetical within & biblio at end)
□What is the latitude- why does that matter (Hadley cells, sunlight, seasons, etc)
□What are its defining characteristics/climate?
○Average temperatures
○Precipitation
○(if Aquatic- salinity? tides? Dissolved O2? turbidity?)
■Do these factors change seasonally? daily? explain.
□Are there any geological/topographical features that affect or define this area? How do they influence it?
○Mountain ranges/elevation … or… Depth
□What Biome or Aquatic Zone is it considered a part of? Why here?
□Are there any particular limiting factors which organisms must be specially adapted.
(CH 8.24) What are the geological processes that shaped this ecosystems? (10 points)
□(about ½ page with an picture/map/graph) What type of mineral and energy resources are
(used to/could be) extracted here or close by?
(CH 11) What agriculture, grazing, fishing, or other food harvest is practiced in this ecosystem or close by (if it is a park/preserve).(10 points)
□What are some of the harmful practices? What are some of the possible solutions?
(CH 10) What type of management practices are used to preserve this ecosystem?(5 points)
□Are their plans or ideas you could apply to better preserve this ecosystem? And it’s species?
(CH 20) How might you design a green city which is more adaptive to the specific area & ecosystem.(5pts)
□What are some things you could learn from some organisms in your food web- think biomimicry.
(CH 12 & 13) Which energy sources are use/could be used and why? (about ½ page-relating energy to geology/climate)(10 points)
(CH 19) How will your ecosystem be affected by global climate change.(10pts)
□What are some of the theories, explain the scientific explanations of these predictions. Are there any
other issues associated with air pollution issues. Should be about 1 page double spaced. You are encouraged to apply your knowledge to the place you know for answers. However you should research also- parenthetical citation!
(CH 9 & 14) What are the sources of water in your ecosystem?(10 points)
(about ½ page with an picture/map/graph) What are the water issues of this area? (limiting factor? flooding? extractions? pollution...etc)
(CH 17) What are the human health hazards that have impacted this ecosystem/food web, or the local people? ie. Disease, toxins, bioaccumulation, synergy.(10 points)
FINAL= Paste all of these parts into a book to create a portfolio of your ecosystem.(+10 points) TOTAL = 175
ECOSYSTEM IDEAS!To get you thinking- If you know of another place that is fine!
Marine:
Antarctica
Galapagos
SE Asian Coral Reefs/ Sulu-Sulawesi Seas
Caribbean Coral Reef
Great Barrier Reef
Central American Mangroves
Pacific Coast Tide pools (local)
Gulf of the Farallones/ Cordell Bank (local)
Monterey Bay- Kelp Forest
Deep-Sea vents
Channel Islands (marine)
Estuaries (local)/ Saltmarsh
Bering Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Red Sea
Chesapeake Bay
Gulf of California/ Sea of Cortez
Grand Banks
Freshwater:
Lake Tahoe
Sonoma Creek/ Russian River (local)
American River
Colorado River
Mississippi River
Danube River
Niger River Delta
Everglades
Orinoco Wetlands
Amazon River
Congo River and flooded forest.
Mekong Delta (Vietnam)
Yangtze River and lakes
Lake Baikal –(Ukraine)
Tundra:
Arctic Circle
Himalayas (pick a specific altitude range/ area)
Andes Mountains (pick a specific altitude range/ area)
Desert:
Joshua Tree (Mojave Desert)
Sonoran Desert (Baja)
Chihuahuan Desert
Gobi Desert
Sahara Desert
Great Basin
Australian Outback Desert
TYPES of FORESTS
Mountain/ Boreal
Yellowstone
Yosemite
British Columbia/Alaska/Siberia
Appalachians (Deciduous Forest)
Scandinavian Boreal forest
Redwood Forest
Olympic Rainforest
Rainforest:
Hawaiian Rainforest
Australian Rainforest
SE Asian Rainforest (Borneo/ Papua- New Guinea)
Japan (or Madagascar)
Amazon rainforest (not river)
Central American rainforest (Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama…etc.)
Congo Rainforest
Woodlands/grasslands:
Coastal Oak Woodlands (local)
Coastal Scrub (local)
Chaparral (Southern CA. OR Mediterranean)
African Savannah (Rift Valley or South Africa)
Galapagos Scrub