Download Ecology_Project

Title: Design an Ecosystem
Karin Westerling
[email protected]
Teacher information, student handout, and project example.
Activity Type :
A cooperative group simulation activity.
May be suitable for evaluating mastery of ecological concepts at the end of an unit.
Lesson may include public speaking and graphic arts components.
Target Audience :
This lesson was developed for the ecology unit of biology and sheltered-English biology courses.
It may also be suitable for life science, integrated science, environmental science courses.
Background Information:
Teacher notes:
1. Students create a simple, imaginary ecosystem. They describe the interrelations between the species inhabiting the
ecosystem and their physical environment. They then imagine an alteration in their environment and project the impact
that such a change would have on the organisms living in their ecosystem. (The teacher may wish to limit the type of
change in order to emphasize a specific concept.) Finally, they suggest methods to mitigate the impact of the change.
2. Local Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), known as Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) in California,
increase student interest, especially if a current building project is controversial. But complete EIRs are usually
ponderous tomes which may not be suitable for classroom reading.
Student requirements:
The lesson does not assume a specific vocabulary base, but concepts suggested by the following terms should be
understood: food chain/food web; producer; primary, secondary and tertiary consumer; decomposer; pyramids of
energy, mass and number; community; population; niche; threatened species; endangered species; extinction.
Preparation time and materials:
Minimal prep time is required to gather the materials. Materials are listed in the student instructions.
Class time needed :
This lab is deceptively complex. Students usually require at least two hours to prepare their ecosystems. Additional
time is then needed for the oral presentations.
Lesson :
The student handout is below. An example project follows the student instructions.
Author :
This is an original activity, but I imagine that similar activities exist. As with all lesson plans, it is a living document
which is undergoing constant modification. Ideas for improvement are appreciated. Please write to:
Karin Westerling
Moreno Valley High School
23300 Cottonwood Avenue
Moreno Valley, CA 92506
[email protected]
DESIGN AN ECOSYSTEM PROJECT
Introduction :
There is a very old biology joke which goes like this:
Biology Lab Exam
1. Create life.
In today's activity, it's not a joke. You are to create several species in a unique ecosystem. You will
describe your species' niche as well as their reproductive habits. You will then prepare an
environmental Impact Report (EIR) describing the expected effects of an environmental
disturbance (e.g. flood, paving over the ecosystem to make a Wal-Mart parking lot, Snark hunting,
introduction of a foreign species, etc.).
Hints:
1. Keep it simple. Since the end of the term is near, you won't have a billion years to do this
activity.
2. Look ahead. Consider the conditions associated with species endangerment while you plan your
ecosystem. That way your EIR will be more interesting.
Materials: Poster paper, color markers, notebook paper, pen/pencil, ideas
Method :
1. Your mission is to design and artistically depict an ecosystem.
2. Here are some hints:
A. Location: Your ecosystem may be anywhere, including other planets!
B. Biological community: Imaginary organisms are very welcome.
Include at least one species of each of these:
i. Producers
ii. Primary consumers
iii. Secondary and higher level consumers
iv. Decomposers
For each species be sure to include its:
i. range
ii. population size
iii. reproductive behavior (mating rituals, fertilization method, number of offspring, care of
offspring, etc.)
iv. a. nutritional requirements, if an animal, or soil and water requirements, if a plant
v. position in food web
vi. sensitivity to environmental insults
vii. any known usefulness/attractiveness to humans
C. Physical components: Your species must be appropriate for their physical environment.
Be sure to consider:
i. Climate: temperature, seasons, humidity and precipitation
ii. Surface conditions: soil minerals, soil texture, water, grade (slope)
3. Now that you have created a beautiful ecosystem, add a disturbance. Your disturbance may
be spontaneous or man-made; intentional or unintentional, or a combination of these. You are
not limited to the following:
A. Climate change: warming, cooling, change in water availability.
B. Direct human interference: hunting/harvesting, land clearing, pesticides/herbicides,
introduction of a foreign species, etc.
4. Identify the effect of the disturbance on the species in your ecosystem. Use the list below to
help you make the following declarations:
A. Extinct: Species which are completely decimated.
B. Endangered: Species which are in imminent danger of extinction.
C. Threatened: Species which are at significant risk of becoming
endangered but are not in immediate danger of becoming extinct.
D. No expected change: Species with moderate to large populations,
whose numbers are expected to remain stable.
E. Increased: Species whose populations increase. May be potential pests.
5. Prepare your EIR describing what happens to each species. The EIR should also state why you
are making your predictions. Include ideas for mitigation (lessening) of the environmental impact.
Be prepared to share your results with the rest of the class.
Report : Poster or diorama, one to two page EIR, classroom presentation.
Conditions Associated with Species Endangerment
1. Limited Range : Species is found in only a small, specific area.
2. Small Population or Rarity : Species is rare within its range. High level consumers are usually
rare. Other species may also have small populations.
3. High Specificity : Species has very specific requirements for:
food (e.g. Pandas only eat bamboo; animals which eat only one type of food, or a few specific
foods, are prone to extinction if the food supply disappears.); reproduction (e.g. Spotted Owls only
nest in old coniferous tree hollows, rabbit fleas use female rabbit reproductive hormones
and don't make their own); habitat (e.g. there are fungi which are found only in gopher tortoise
burrows); etc.
4. High Sensitivity : Species is extremely vulnerable to environmental disturbances. Examples
include: Birds are very sensitive to DDT and related pesticides which cause thinning of their
eggshells. Compare birds with cockroaches, which are not very sensitive. Some plants have very
specific requirements for light; too much or too little sunshine will kill them.
5. Low Fecundity: Species produces few offspring. Note: species which care for their young either
before birth (long pregnancy) and/or afterwards have fewer offspring than those who do not.
6. High Human Value: Species has characteristics that make it valuable to humans. Many animals
have been hunted to endangerment, or even extinction, for their beautiful plumage or fur. Wild
plants and fungi may also be over-harvested if they are particularly tasty or contain useful
medicine.
SAMPLE ECOSYSTEM: THE VALLEY
PRODUCER: Norse Sea Lily
i. range: many reservoirs such as Lake Perris
ii. pop size: large
iii. reproduction: flowering plant pollinated by mead bees; flowers in early summer
iv. nutrition:
a. autotroph
b. eaten by Go Fish (roots), Mo Val Vikings (leaves), Mead Bees (nectar), Lily Weevil (immature
fruit)
v. sensitivity: the more minerals in the water the better, needs full sunlight
vi. humans use: artificial poi & glue (roots), fibers for fabric (stems), snack food (seeds), decoration
(flowers), roofing material (leaves)
vii. climate: cool winters with foggy mornings, warm and sunny summers
viii. surface: lives in water
1 CONSUMER: Mead Bee
i. range: many reservoirs such as Lake Perris
ii. pop size: small
iii. reproduction: a single queen lays many eggs which are tended by her daughters
iv. nutrition:
a. eats nectar and pollen of the Norse Sea Lily
b. eaten by some birds
v. sensitivity: low sensitivity, but only one food source
vi. humans use: often considered a pest
vii. climate: active during warm months, hibernates in winter
viii. surface: flying insect: hives on land, food flower floats on surface of water
1 CONSUMER: Go Fish
i. range: many reservoirs such as Lake Perris
ii. pop size: moderate
iii. reproduction: following a mating ritual in clear water the females lay eggs & the males fertilize
the eggs externally, males guard nest until eggs hatch, babies receive no care nor assistance
iv. nutrition:
a. Norse Sea Lily & other plant roots
b. are eaten by MoVal Vikings who like them better than Lilies but not as much as mead.
v. sensitivity: eggs are sensitive to chemical pollutants, adults are pretty tough
vi. humans use: sport and food fish
vii. climate: any temp above freezing & below 50 C
viii. surface: lives in water
1 CONSUMER/2 CONSUMER: MoVal Viking
i. range: southern California
ii. pop size: many 1000s
iii. reproduction: life-long pair bonds, internal fertilization, low birth rate, extensive care of young
iv. nutrition:
a. Go Fish, mead, lilies, eagles, cougars & broccoli
b. top level predator
v. sensitivity: low chemical sensitivity, sudden temperature change can harm them
vi. humans use: extremely attractive exotic pets
vii. climate: warm and sunny weather with plenty of water
viii. surface: amphibious
1 CONSUMER/DECOMPOSER:
Yeast Beast
i. range: very limited, only in Mead Bee hives
ii. pop size: moderate in hives, zero elsewhere
iii. reproduction: high fecundity: usually asexual budding
iv. nutrition:
a. eats nectar and pollen brought to hive by bee excretes mead
b. Vikings drink mead. Vikings really like that mead
v. sensitivity: low sensitivity to chemicals
vi. humans use: no known use
vii. climate: warm & moist
viii. surface: live in hive which protects them from climate extremes
DECOMPOSER: Ship Worm
i. range: many reservoirs such as Lake Perris
ii. pop size: large
iii. reproduction: hermaphroditic, lay many eggs, external fertilization, no care of young
iv. nutrition:
a. eats dead organic matter
b. eats anything & everything, once it's died
v. sensitivity: low sensitivity to chemicals, light, temp or salinity change
vi. humans use: no known use, humans think they are ugly
vii. climate: any temperature above freezing
viii. surface: lives in water
SAMPLE EIR
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE:
A gravid (pregnant) Lily Weevil is inadvertently introduced into the valley. The Lily Weevil eats
immature Norse Sea Lily fruit. Worse yet are its reproductive habits. It parasitizes hymenopterans
by stinging them into paralysis and laying a single egg in the abdomen of each insect. The Weevil
larva then feeds upon its host from the inside out! Needless to say, this is an experience which a
Mead Bee does not survive.
IMPACT ON SPECIES:
Extinct : At this time it is not possible to tell whether any of these organisms would actually go
extinct. However endangerment, by definition, means that a species might go extinct in the near
future.
Endangered:
Mead Bee: Bees are being massacred by the Lily Weevil, a newly introduced species.
Yeast Beast: Yeast Beasts are totally dependent on Mead Bees. If the Mead Bee dies out, so will
the Yeast Beast.
Norse Sea Lily: Not only do Weevils eat their fruit before their seeds have formed, they also
parasitize the Lily's only pollinator. The Lily may not be able to reproduce in the presence of the
Weevil. Finally, human predation may also contribute to their demise.
Threatened:
MoVal Viking: The Vikings could loose three important food sources: Lilies, Go Fish, and mead.
Fortunately, Vikings have other food sources available to them.
Go Fish: Go Fish would loose a major food source. Also Vikings may predate more heavily upon
the fish since the Vikings no longer have Lilies and mead.
No Change :
Ship Worm: One way or the other, there will be plenty of dead for the Ship Worm to eat.
Increased:
Lily Weevil: Since the valley is full of food (Lilies) and reproductive opportunities (Bees), Weevils
may increase in population. Contributing to their increase is the lack of natural predators such as
Leaping Lizards which eat them.
MITIGATION :
Prevent entry of the Lily Weevil:
Prevent, or at least delay entry, of this dreaded pest. Recommended practices include:
Do not import, or import only after quarantine, agricultural products, such as aquarium and pond
plants, which may be infested with the Lily Weevil. While this idea is sound, it may be difficult to
carry out. Backyard pond enthusiasts may not understand the need for not smuggling various exotic
plants which they would like to grow at home.
Population control for the Lily Weevil:
If entry cannot be prevented, methods of limiting Weevil population must be explored. For
example:
Pesticides: Some pesticides kill Lily Weevil effectively; but others are no longer effective since the
Lily Weevil has evolved resistance to them. Also, the same pesticides that kill Weevils, kills Mead
Bees. This solution has only limited viability.
Introduction of Weevil predator: A population of Leaping Lizards could be introduced to the
valley. Lizards would keep the Weevil population low. They would not completely eradicate the
Weevil. Prior to their introduction, extensive research is recommended as it is not known what
other organisms would be effected by the Lizards. For example: would Leaping Lizards eat Mead
Bees; out compete the local Friendly Frog for insect food; or in some other way become a pest?