Ecology Final Project
Directions:
Choose an organism species to research and learn more about! And then create a slideshow about your organism, including:
Slide 1: Title Slide
➢ The name of the organism species.
➢ Your name.
➢ A drawing or picture of the organism.
Slide 2: Meet the Organism
➢
➢
➢
➢
➢
A drawing or picture of the organism.
The type of organism. (Amphibian, Arachnid, Bird, Crustacean,
Fish, Fungus, Insect, Mammal, Plant, Reptile, etc.)
The Average Lifespan of the organism. (How long does it live?)
The main Threats to the organism. (What is killing/harming it?)
The organism’s Diet. (What does it eat? How does it get energy?)
Slide 3: Organism's Biome
➢ The type of Biome that your organism lives in. (Desert, Grassland,
Marine, Taiga, Temperate Forest, Tropical Rainforest, or Tundra.)
➢ A map showing where your organisms can be found.
➢ Common Weather Patterns where your organism lives. (Dry, wet,
heavy snowfall or rainfall, monsoons, droughts, mild seasons, hot,
humid, etc.)
➢ List 5 biotic factors & 3 abiotic factors found in the organisms
ecosystem.
Slides 4 - 5: Organism's Adaptation
➢ A drawing or picture of the adaptation.
➢ A description of the adaptation. (What does the adaptation look
like?)
➢ The function of the adaptation. (Helps the organism: move, protect
itself, attract a mate, eat/hunt, obtain energy, grow, protect its
offspring, deal with weather, reproduce, etc?)
➢ The advantage of the adaptation. (How does the adaptation help
your organism survive in its specific habitat?)
Slides 6: Organism Interactions
➢ A food chain with at least 3 organisms that contains your organism
➢ 2 pictures of your organism interacting with another organism
➢ Description that identifies & explains the types of interactions
(predator-prey, competition or symbiosis)
Rough-Skinned Newt
By Ms. Frizzle
Meet the Rough-Skinned Newt
Average Lifespan:
12-18 years in the wild
Main Threats:
Being eaten by Garter Snakes and
American Bullfrogs & Habitat Loss
Diet:
Spiders, worms, various small insects,
and salamander eggs
Organism Type: Amphibian
Where is the Rough-Skinned Newt found?
Biome: Taiga
Weather:
Damp and Rainy
Abiotic Factors:
Water, cool temperatures, rocks
Biotic Factors:
Western Painted turtles
(endangered), Crawfish, Beavers
Skunk Cabbage, Rocky Mountain Iris
Adaptation: Defensive Pose
Function of the Adaptation:
Protects newts from potential
predators.
Description:
When threatened, newts will
curl their body to show their
bright-colored underbelly.
Advantage of the Adaptation:
The bright coloring and arched
body warns predators that the
newt is toxic and should be left
alone, not eaten.
Advantage of the Adaptation:
Most animals will not eat newts, due to their
highly toxic skin. The garter snake is the only
animal immune to a newt’s poison.
Function of
the
Adaptation:
Protects newts
and their eggs
from being
eaten by
predators.
Description:
When threatened, newts release a smelly toxin
(poison) through their skin. Their eggs are also
laced with this poison. Wash hands very well if
you touch one!
Rough Skinned Newt Interactions
Competitions
Predator - Prey
Rough Skinned Newt & Garter Snake
compete for the same food sources.
They both eat slugs, insects & small fish
Rough Skinned Newts eat earthworms.
In this example the newt is the predator
and the worm is the prey