Instructional Period 1 Adaptations August 2, 2010 – September 24, 2010 Culminating Project During the past 7 weeks we have been studying Ecology, specifically the diversity, behavior, and adaptations of living organisms. As a final project you must imagine you are a scientist on a planet in another galaxy. You have been sent there to observe the diversity of living things and the behaviors and adaptations of those organisms. Task 1: You must observe the biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem. You must examine the living organisms, the relationships between these organisms, and explain how these organisms are able to survive in this environment. You may report your findings in a written report, a power point presentation, smart board presentation, or on a poster board. Follow the rubric to ensure you answer all questions, make the necessary observations and inferences about the organisms on this planet. Task 2: You must CREATE a 2-dimensional representation (drawing) of the ecosystem you observed. Use your rubric and reported findings to help ensure you have all the necessary parts in your drawing. Task 3: You must CREATE a 3-dimensional model of the ecosystem you observed. Use your drawing, report, and the rubric to guide you in the construction of your model. You will be given materials to complete your model after submitting your written report and 2-dimensional model. Task 4: Report your findings to the International Ecology Association (class). Present your written findings (report, power point, or poster), drawing, and model. Instructional Period 1 Adaptations August 2, 2010 – September 24, 2010 Culminating Project Rubric Task 1: Reported Findings Environment Correctly identify and describe the biome. Cover in detail the vegetation and animals present. Correctly identify 4 abiotic factors. Correctly identify 4 biotic factors. Organism # 1 (Animal) Shelter Food and Water Reproduction and Offspring 4 points 3 points 2 points 1-0 points Correctly identifies the biome. Describes the environment and including temperature, precipitation, soil type, vegetation, and animals present. Identifies and describe 4 abiotic factors. Identifies and describe 4 biotic factors. Correctly identifies the biome. Describes the environment and includes most of the following: temperature, precipitation, soil type, vegetation, animals present. Identifies and describe 3 abiotic factors. Identifies and describe 4 abiotic factors. Correctly identifies the biome. Describes the environment and includes some of the following: temperature, precipitation, soil type, vegetation, animals present. Identifies and describe 2 abiotic factors. Identifies and describe 4 abiotic factors. Correctly identifies the biome. Describes the environment and includes few of the following: temperature, precipitation, soil type, vegetation, animals present. Identifies and describe 1 abiotic factor. Identifies and describe 4 abiotic factors. 4 points 3 points 2 points 1-0 points Accurately describes the animal’s shelter and explains how the features of this specific environment allow for survival in detail. Accurately describes the adaptations that allow the animal to obtain food and water. Explains in detail how these adaptations contribute to the survival of the organism. Accurately identifies and describes the organism’s type of Accurately describes the animal’s shelter and explains how the features of this specific environment allow for survival. Accurately describes the animal’s shelter. Does not describe the animal’s shelter. Describes the adaptations that allow the animal to obtain food and water. Offers minimal explanation of the adaptations. Identifies the adaptations that allow the animal to obtain food and water. Identifies only one of the adaptations that allow the animal to obtain food or water. Accurately identifies the organism’s type of reproduction Accurately identifies the organism’s type of reproduction Is missing one or more parts. Either does not identify the organism’s Organism # 1 (Animal) Continued… Protective, Defensive Characteristics Classification Symbiotic Relationship Behavioral Adaptation Physiological Adaptation reproduction (sexual or asexual). Describes in detail if/how the animal cares for offspring. (sexual or asexual). Describes if and how the animal cares for its offspring. (sexual or asexual). Identifies whether or not the animal cares for its offspring. type of reproduction (sexual or asexual) or whether or not the animal cares for its offspring. 4 points 3 points 2 points 1-0 points Accurately identifies a protective or defensive characteristic and describes in detail how this adaptation allows for the organism’s survival. Accurately describes and explains in detail the classification of this organism. Correctly identifies one type of symbiotic relationship this organism has with another organism in the observed environment, and explains it in detail. Identify, describe, and explain one behavioral adaptation not listed above, that ensures this organism’s survival. Identify, describe, and explain one physiological adaptation not listed above, that ensures this organism’s survival. Accurately identifies a protective or defensive characteristic and describes how this adaptation allows for the organism’s survival. Accurately identifies a protective or defensive adaptation. Does not accurately identify a protective or defensive adaptation. Accurately describes and explains the classification of this organism. Correctly identifies one type of symbiotic relationship this organism has with another organism in the observed environment, and explains it. Accurately identifies the classification of this organism. Does not accurately identify the classification of this organism. Correctly identifies one type of symbiotic relationship this organism has with another. Does not identify a relationship this organism has with another. Identify and describe one behavioral adaptation not listed above. Does not identify or describe a behavioral adaptation. Identify and describe one physiological adaptation not listed above. Does not identify or describe a physiological adaptation. Identify and describe one behavioral adaptation not listed above that ensures this organism’s survival. Identify and describe one physiological adaptation not listed above that ensures this organism’s survival. Organism # 2 (Plant) Food and Water Reproduction (Pollination, Germination, Seed Dispersal) Protective, Defensive Characteristics Classification Physiological Adaptation 4 points 3 points 2 points 1-0 points Accurately describes the adaptations that allow the plant to obtain food and water. Explains in detail how these adaptations contribute to the survival of the organism. Accurately identifies and describes the organism’s type of reproduction. Accurately identifies a protective or defensive characteristic and describes in detail how this adaptation allows for the organism’s survival. Accurately describes and explains in detail the classification of this organism. Identify, describe, and explain one physiological adaptation not listed above, that ensures this organism’s survival. Describes the adaptations that allow the plant to obtain food and water. Offers minimal explanation of the adaptations. Identifies the adaptations that allow the plant to obtain food and water. Identifies only one of the adaptations that allow the plant to obtain food or water. Accurately identifies the organism’s type of reproduction. Accurately identifies the organism’s type of reproduction. Does not identify the organism’s type of reproduction. Accurately identifies a protective or defensive characteristic and describes how this adaptation allows for the organism’s survival. Accurately identifies a protective or defensive adaptation. Does not accurately identify a protective or defensive adaptation. Accurately describes and explains the classification of this organism. Identify and describe one physiological adaptation not listed above that ensures this organism’s survival. Accurately identifies the classification of this organism. Does not accurately identify the classification of this organism. Identify and describe one physiological adaptation not listed above. Does not identify or describe a physiological adaptation. Food Web Goods and Service 4 points 3 points 2 points 1-0 points Identifies producers, consumers, and decomposers within a food web. Also identifies the prey and predators in the web. Includes at least 7 organisms. Identifies producers, consumers, and decomposers within a food web. Also identifies the prey and predators in the web. Includes at least 5 organisms. Identifies producers, consumers, and decomposers within a food web. Also identifies the prey and predators in the web. Includes at least 3 organisms. Creates a food web but does not identify the roles of the organisms. 4 points 3 points 2 points 1-0 points Describes at least 2 goods and 2 services that could come from this environment if humans lived there. Includes how/why these are important. Describes at least 1 good and 1 service that could come from this environment if humans lived there. Includes how/why these are important. Describes one good or one service that could come from this environment if humans lived there. Includes how/why these are important. Does not describe any goods or services from this environment. 2 points 1-0 points Task 2: 2-Dimensional Representation Drawing 4 points 3 points Drawing includes 5 living organisms, 4 biotic and 4 abiotic factors. A water source must be present. Shelter for the described animal. The symbiotic relationship described must be illustrated. Drawing must be neat, include color and labels. Drawing includes most of the 15 requirements (1012). Drawing includes some of the requirements (710). Drawing includes few of the requirements (less than 7). Task 3: 3-Dimensional Model Model 4 points 3 points 2 points 1-0 points Model includes many of the biotic and abiotic factors present. It also includes many types of vegetation and animals in the ecosystem. It includes a water source. It includes a shelter for the described organism. The symbiotic relationship described is present. Model includes some of the biotic and abiotic factors present. It also includes some types of vegetation and animals in the ecosystem. It includes a water source. It includes a shelter for the described organism. Model includes a few biotic and abiotic factors. It includes at least one type of vegetation and one type of animal. It includes a water source. Model includes at least one biotic and one abiotic factor. It includes one type of vegetation or one animal. There is no water source or shelter. Task 4: Reported Findings to International Ecology Association (Class) Presentation 4 points 3 points 2 points Speaks loudly for class to hear, makes eye contact with audience. Remains on task and on topic. Presentation includes an accurate and thorough explanation of report, drawing, and model. Most of the time the speaker is loud enough to hear and makes eye contact. Remains on topic. Presentation includes explanation of report, drawing, and model. Cannot hear the presenter or does not remain on topic. Does not explain report, drawing, or model in much detail. 1-0 points Does not give a presentation.