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Station 1:
Grassland Ecosystem
STEP 1
Read the paragraph below. Then, find the
section of your classwork paper that says
“Station 1.” In the left side box draw the food
web of the grassland ecosystem BEFORE
the disturbance.
Ecosystem 1
There are many animals that live in the grassland ecosystem. Grass
and small shrubs are the producers in this biome. Rabbits, squirrels
and mice and are the primary consumers. Rabbits and mice eat only
small shrubs from the grassland. The squirrels eat both grass and
small shrubs. Foxes eat the rabbits and mice.
STEP 2
A disturbance hits! A brush fire destroys all of the small shrubs in
the grassland. Decide what animals and plants die as a result of
this disturbance. (Hint: Start with the plants that you know die.)
STEP 3
Redraw the food web of grassland ecosystem after the
disturbance. Do not draw any of the plants and animals that were
wiped out by the disease!
Station 2:
Rainforest Ecosystem
STEP 1
Read the paragraph below. Then,
find the section of your classwork
paper that says “Station 2.” In the
left side box, draw the food web
of the rainforest ecosystem
BEFORE the disturbance.
Ecosystem 2
Tropical rainforests are the most diverse biome in the world and there
are many connections in between species. There are many producers
that live in the rainforest, including orchids, banana trees, the coconut
tree and bamboo. The primary consumers are the macaw (bird), fruit
bats, monkeys and insects. The macaw and the fruit bats eat orchids
and banana trees. The monkeys and insects eat bamboo, banana
trees and coconut trees. Pythons and jaguars are secondary
consumers. Pythons eat macaws and fruit bats. Jaguars eat macaws,
monkeys and insects.
STEP 2
DISEASE hits! A disease wipes out all small shrubs and trees
(both coconut and banana). Decide what animals and plants die
as a result of this disturbance. (Hint: Start with the plants that
you know die.)
STEP 3
Redraw the food web of Rainforest Ecosystem after the
disturbance on the right side of the paper. Do not draw any of the
plants and animals that were wiped out by the disease.
Station 3:
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability
Directions
Use the food webs you made for Station 1 and Station 2 to answer
the following questions. Don’t forget to THINK!!!
1.
How many species are in the grassland ecosystem BEFORE the
brush fire?
2.
How many species are in the grassland ecosystem AFTER the
brush fire?
3.
How many species were lost in the grassland ecosystem
because of the brush fire? What were these species?
4.
How many species are in the rainforest ecosystem BEFORE the
disease?
5.
How many species are in the rainforest ecosystem AFTER the
disease?
6.
How many species were lost in the rainforest ecosystem
because the disease hit? What were these species?
7.
Which ecosystem started with the largest biodiversity?
8.
Which ecosystem ended with the largest biodiversity?
9.
Which ecosystem is more stable?
10.
In a complete sentence (or two), EXPLAIN why one ecosystem
is more stable than the other.
When you are finished, take a break. Chill.
Station 4, Part 1:
Summary Writing (Medicine)
STEP 1
Read the following paragraphs.
Biodiversity
One word that is often used when talking about environmental
problems is “biodiversity”. “Diversity” means difference of variety, so
“biodiversity” describes the whole range of the different varieties of
living things on this earth. Biodiversity can be found everywhere – it
includes animal species, plant species, genes, ecosystems and
landscapes.
Why do we need to conserve biodiversity?
Medicine
When developing new medicines, modern researchers are looking more and more
towards our natural resources. Many animal and plant species have been useful in the
past for finding new treatments and cures. One of the most famous examples is digitalin,
which is derived from the foxglove and is used to treat heart conditions. Another is
vincristine, taken from the rosy periwinkle of Madagascar and used to treat childhood
leukemia. Many more medicines have been made from species found in rainforest areas.
It is possible that many species could hold the answer to future medical cures – so the
more species that are conserved, the more chance there is of discovering something of
medical value.
STEP 2
Summarize the “Biodiversity” paragraph in 1 – 2 sentences.
Then, summarize the “Medicine” paragraph, too.
WRITE IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
Station 4, Part 2:
Summary Writing (People)
STEP 1
Read the following paragraphs.
Why do we need to conserve biodiversity?
Ecosystems
Biodiversity is of great importance in order to maintain stable ecosystems. An ecosystem is a group of living
things that live together in an area. If there is a sudden change in that community’s environment, the
balance of the community may change which may cause it to be destroyed.
The destruction of ecosystems can have a very serious effect both on local and global levels. Rainforests,
for example, contribute both to the process of soil formation and help to regulate the climate through
photosynthesis – both producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. This means that the destruction of
rainforests causes erosion, loss of valuable species and changes in climate.
People
Biodiversity and the protection of our ecosystems is also important to us all as individuals. We can all
appreciate the beauty of biodiversity whether we are looking at a view, rock-pooling, going for a walk in a
wood or sitting in a garden. Human beings like to live in a varied natural environment with open spaces to
walk and play in, trees for shade, colorful flowers, clean water for swimming and paddling, birds and
animals. What would our world be like without trees?
There is also an ethical side to maintaining biodiversity. Many people feel that it is their duty to pass on the
same natural world to their children that they have enjoyed. Others think that species themselves have their
own value and right to exist whether humans need them or not.
STEP 2
Summarize the “Ecosystems” paragraph in 1 – 2 sentences.
Then, summarize the “People” paragraph, too.
WRITE IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
Station 5:
Importance of the Sun
Station 6:
Unit Test Practice
Directions
Answer the following questions. Don’t forget to THINK!!!
Modified True/False
If the statement is true, write “True.”
If the statement is false, write “False” AND re-write the statement to
make it true.
11.
One of the benefits of biodiversity is that we may discover cures for many diseases in plants.
12.
Ecosystems with high biodiversity are more stable than ecosystems with low biodiversity.
13.
If an ecosystem has low biodiversity, and one species goes extinct, then the ecosystem will not change
very much.
Short answer
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
14.
Coniferous forests change more when a disease hits than when that same disease hits a deciduous
forest. What does this observation tell us about which type of forest has greater biodiversity?
Use the following paragraph to answer questions 15-16.
There are many tall trees in the rainforest of South America. The trees receive much sunlight at the
equator, growing tall. These trees provide food and shelter for the monkeys, who swing from their
branches and eat their fruit. The trees are also good for the leopards, which climb the trees and eat the
monkeys. Soyex, a multi-national farming company, wants to cut down all of the trees in a 30 square
mile area of the rainforest to plant soybeans.
15.
How would cutting down the trees affect the biodiversity of the rainforest ecosystem?
16.
Would the ecosystem be more or less stable after the drilling? Explain WHY in at least two complete
sentences. Describe what happens to all of the organisms in the rainforest ecosystem, and use the word
“biodiversity.”