Ecology Inquiry-Based Project

Part I: Describe Biome

You will be researching your ‘favorite’ biome.

  1. Abiotic Factors - Identify 5 major characteristics of your biome. Provide a brief yet concise description of biome.
  2. Create a climograph for assigned biome.
  3. Use this link for help on how to make your climograph in excel:
  1. On printed copy of world map, highlight your biome.
  2. Identify 3 locations (countries, states (if in the US), etc.) that represents your biome.
  3. List at least three National Parks, Monuments or places of interest in your biome.
  4. Write an advertising slogan or short jingle to get people to visit and promote the positive aspects of your biome.

Part II: Biotic Factors/Food Web/Food Chain Project

  1. Identify at least 15 organisms from at least three different Kingdoms that live in biome.
  2. Explain at least three adaptations that organisms have that help them thrive in your assigned biome.
  3. Identify at least 2 decomposers/saprotrophs within your biome and explain their importance to the biome.
  4. Create at least 3 food chains using organisms that live in your researched biome.
  5. Each food chain must contain at least three to four organisms
  6. Directional arrows – showing the flow of energy within the chain
  7. Assemble your food chains into a food web. Use a different color pencil for each food chain within the food web. The web must show at least 10 organisms
  8. Provide Drawings or pictures of each organism
  9. Directional arrows, showing the flow of energy within the web
  10. Create an ecological pyramid for your biome then list the trophic levels of your food web and the individuals within each trophic level.
  11. Try to indicate the amount of energy available at each trophic level in Kj m-2yr-1
  12. Identify one endangered, threatened, or extinct species within your biome.
  13. Explain what caused the species to become endangered, threatened or extinct.
  14. Explain how this would this effect your biome if it were to become extinct or has already become extinct

Part III: Symbiotic Relationships and Competition

  1. Identify and explain one example of mutualism found in your biome.
  2. Identify and explain one example of commensalism found in your biome.
  3. Identify and explain one example of parasitism found in your biome.
  4. Identify and explain one example of competition found in your biome.

Make sure to provide a picture of your biome! Since you are looking up all of this information, you need to be listing ALL of your sources in a works cited page. Remember APA format! This does not have to be an in-text citation, but rather just a sources list.

Part I: Biome Information

Possible Points / Points Earned
5 Abiotic Characteristics / 5
Biome Description / 5
List of 3 Locations / 5
Map with Biome Highlighted / 5
Climograph / 10
National Parks/Monuments / 5
Slogan/jingle / 5

Total

/ 40

Part II: Food Web/Food Chain

Possible Points / Points Earned
15 Organisms / 15
Adaptations / 10
3 Food Chains / 15
Food Web w/Drawings / 10
Ecological Pyramid w/energy / 10
Trophic Levels / 5

Endangered/Threatened Species

/ 10

Total

/ 75

Part III: Symbiotic Relationships and Competition

Possible Points / Points Earned
Example of Mutualism / 10
Example of Commensalism / 10
Example of Parasitism / 10
Example of Competition / 10

Total

/ 40

Other

Possible Points / Points Earned
Picture of Biome / 5
Neatness / 10
Participation / 20
Work Cited / 10

Total

/ 45

Total Score: ______/200 points