Tic-Tac-Toe Menu: Oceans

Ecology Class Projects

You must choose one activity from each row.

30 point / 1. You are an environmental scientist and have been studying issues regarding a threat to biodiversity in a particular area for 10 years. Write a letter to your congressman distinguishing causes, effects, consequences and recommended strides that must be taken to reduce this particular threat. Statistical data must be included. The letter must be word processed, addressed to the appropriate congressman, and in proper business letter format. / 2. For the past 10 years, you have been employed as an environmental scientist and have extensively researched factors regarding global warming. You have been invited to speak to a congressional committee about your findings. Formulate a power point or animation presentation regarding causes, effects, consequences and strides that must be taken. Statistical data (graphs, etc) should be included. Presentation must be a minimum of 8 slides with graphics, pictures, etc. / 3. You are an advertising executive and have been employed an active environmental group that has conducted extensive research regarding a particular threat to biodiversity for the past decade. Design a 2-page magazine ad for National Geographic magazine informing the public of cause(s), effect (s) and / or consequence(s) of this threat. Statistical data (graphs, etc) should be included.
50 point / 4. Complete the Biome Travel Brochure. You are going to create a 1 page, 2 sided travel brochure to a biome of your choice. Your project will be word processed with color pictures and information on your biome. / 5. Complete mini lab 3.2 on the handout and The population Mini Lab handout You must follow the procedures given and complete the analysis part of Mini Lab 3.2. and create 2 line graphs (on Excel) and answer the analysis questions from the Population Mini Lab You must include information from a minimum of 2 credible sources. / 6. Construct a food web of organisms in an ecosystem within a biome. Use a minimum of 10 organisms. It must be computer generated. It should include labels that identify each organism with its common and scientific names and whether it is a producer; 1O, 2O, 3O, consumer; or decomposer
20 point / 7. Diagram the carbon cycle. This must be computer generated, including appropriate pictures, and printed. Use your own individual style, be creative! / 8. Diagram the nitrogen cycle. This must be computer generated, including appropriate pictures, and printed. Use your own individual style, be creative! / 9. Diagram the phosphorus cycle. This must be computer generated, including appropriate pictures, and printed. Use your own individual style, be creative!

100 points

30 point assignments

1. Biodiversity letter

Possible Points / Points Earned
The causes, effects and consequences of a specific threat to biodiversity are clearly indicated. / 15
Statistical data is included / 5
Letter is in proper full-block style, in the proper tone, is free from grammar and spelling errors / 5
A minimum of two appropriate sources are used and cited at the end of the letter or another attached sheet (APA style) / 5

2. Global Warming PowerPoint

Possible Points / Points Earned
The causes, effects, consequences, and changes to be made regarding global warming are clearly summarized. / 12
Statistical data is included / 4
Presentation should be professional looking, informative without being too wordy, includes a minimum of 8 slides, is error free and includes appropriate pictures, graphs, etc. / 10
A minimum of two appropriate sources are used and cited on the last slide (APA style) / 4

3. Biodiversity Ad

Possible Points / Points Earned
The causes, effects and consequences of a specific threat to biodiversity are clearly indicated. / 12
Statistical data is included / 4
Ad is creative, neat, appealing, will get a reader’s attention and includes a call to action / 10
A minimum of two appropriate sources are used and cited on an attached sheet (APA style) / 4

50 point assignments

4. Biome Travel Brochure

Must be in the following format:

Possible Points / Points Earned
Back Cover
5 interesting facts about your biome not found elsewhere in the brochure / 5
3 neat, appropriate pictures illustrating 3 of the facts above / 3
Front Cover
Large name of your biome described using alliteration
(Desert: Sand, Sun, and Snakes) / 5
A map of the world indicating where your biome is located / 5
A catchy slogan as to why we should visit your biome / 2
Inside Page 1
Biome weather patterns including charts/graphs (temp. precipitation) / 12
What a person should wear when visiting your biome and why / 3
3 activities a visitor can participate in while visiting your biome / 3
Inside Page 2
Fauna and flora – picture and description of at least 2 animals and 2 plants found in your biome. Must include adaptations to the biome. / 8
2 symbiotic relationships found in your biome including the type of symbiosis being displayed. / 4

5. Mini-Labs

Possible Points / Points Earned
Mini Lab 3.2
Neat comparison table created in Word formatted for easy readability / 4
Analysis questions # 1 & 2 are answered fully, citing researched information / 12
Population Mini-Lab (handout)
Proper line graph on Excel (#1) / 8
Proper line graph on Excel (#2) / 4
Answer # 3, 4 & 5 / 18
A minimum of two appropriate sources are used and cited (APA style) / 4

6. Original Food Web

Possible Points / Points Earned
10 organisms are displayed with:
Picture / 10
Common Name / 10
Scientific Name / 10
Role in the food web (producer, primary consumer, decomposer, etc.) / 10
Web is done on the computer, is neat and easy to read / 6
A minimum of two appropriate sources are used and cited (APA style) / 4

20 point assignments

6. Nutrient cycles (Carbon, Nitrogen or Phosphorus)

Possible Points / Points Earned
Cycle is thorough/includes all appropriate steps / 10
Cycle is done on the computer, is neat and logically laid out / 5
Appropriate images are included / 5

Population Mini-Lab

Part A: Population Case Studies

In order to make logical predictions about future population changes, scientists will rely on case studies of other sample populations. Below you will find data on several sample populations of other species to use as models. The graphs you create of this actual data will help you make predictions in Part C. By graphing the population of each species you will have examples upon which you can base your prediction for the future of the human population.

1. Create line graphs on Excel for each of the species identified below.

A brief background on the source of this population data is provided below.

Species 1: Bristlecone Pine

Species 2: Red Fox

Species 3: Bacteria X (1st population)

Species 4: Cerulean Warbler

Species 5: Bacteria X (2nd population)

Species 6: Eastern Cottontail

Part B: Predicting the Future of the Human Population

2. Statistics regarding the human population are given below. Draw a line graph of this data and use this graph to answer the following questions.

3. Which of the sample populations is most like the human populations. Describe the similarities upon which you based this decision.

4. Populations in the natural environment fluctuate regularly as is shown by the Eastern Cottontail data. This is because limiting factors stop populations from growing exponentially. Identify one abiotic factor and one biotic factor in an ecosystem and explain how each of these factors will serve to limit population growth.

5. We have discussed the natural laws that govern natural populations to insure the sustainability of ecosystems. Use our discussion of these natural laws and the case study population graphs in Part B to develop a logical prediction for the future of the human population. Write a single paragraph to communicate your prediction of the future of the human population. Your paragraph should identify the single most important limiting factor (abiotic or biotic) that will prevent the human population from growing exponentially and explain what will happen to the human population as a result.

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