Biome Project
In this project you will be choosing a biome: a large group of ecosystems that share the same climate
and have similar communities of organisms that exists in Minnesota. You will be making a well
organized, detailed, and attractive poster detailed the characteristics of that biome. A biome includes all
of the biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem. The biomes you may choose are:
 Coniferous Forest Biome
 Tall grass Aspen Parkland Biome
 Prairie Grassland Biome
 Deciduous Forest Biome
You may not have the same biome as anyone else at your table.
Please do not plagiarize sources from the internet – it is really easy for me to see what you copied.
Here are some sources you can start with to research these biomes:
All
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/biomes/biomemap.html
http://www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/2007/04/minnesotas-four-biomes/
Deciduous Forest or (Eastern Broadleaf Forest)
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/dforest.html
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/biomes.html
Tall grass Aspen Parkland
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/biomes/tallgrass.html
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ecs/223/index.html
Prairie Grassland (or prairie parkland) Biome
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php
http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/grasslands.html
Coniferous Forest Biome
http://www.fsl.orst.edu/~waring/Publications/pdf/TempForestEncyc.pdf
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/forsite/ncfbiome.htm
For the biome you choose, I expect the following 5 parts to be included:
1. Background facts about your biome (4-5 sentences)
a. What is a biome?
b. What percentage of the earth/Minnesota is covered by your biome?
c. What is the climate like in your biome? Precipitation? Temperature?
d. What would likely happen to your biome if the temperature there were to go up 5® C?
2. Biotic Factors (Animals and Plants from your biome): Choose 20 Organisms
a. 8 Producers, 6 Primary Consumers, 4 Secondary Consumers, 2 Tertiary Consumers
b. Arranged into a food web.
c. Arranged into a trophic pyramid
i. Each level needs to be labeled and needs to include the names of each species
at that level.
d. A table in which you list all 20 organisms
i. One column for the organism
ii. One column for whether it is a herbivore, consumer, or omnivore
iii. One column for whether it is a heterotroph or autotroph.
e. Find one invasive species that is affecting that Biome. (5-6 sentences)
i. Name the organism
ii. How and when did it arrive in your biome?
iii. What effects is the organism having on your ecosystem?
3. Abiotic Factors
a. Define abiotic factor.
b. Choose 2 nutrients between: Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Carbon, and draw a diagram for
each that shows the nutrient moving between reservoirs in your ecosystem with arrows.
i. Use reservoirs specifically from your ecosystem
ii. Sketch a picture to represent each reservoir
iii. For each arrow, write next to it HOW the nutrient is moving. (example, if you
show nitrogen entering the soil from the atmosphere, you mention that it
occurs through lightning or nitrogen fixing bacteria).
c. Make a table to display 10 other abiotic factors. (examples: soil type, precipitation,
winter temperature, summer temperature). Use metric units. Convert from imperial
measurements if you need to.
i. First column should list all 10
ii. Second column should list the value that matches that abiotic factor. (for
example, next to “annual precipitation” list the annual rainfall in centimeters)
4. Human Effects
a. What effect do humans have on your biome? (Types of pollution, animal extinction, loss
of habitat due to building/land use change) (4 sentences)
b. What strategies could humans put into place to limit their impact on this ecosystem? (2
sentences)
5. Sources. You need 4 minimum
Points:
Background Info
Biotic Factors
1
2
3
1-2 sentences, does not
answer all 4 parts.
10 or fewer organisms
Missing
web/pyramid/table
4-5 sentences, answers
all 4 sections.
20+ organisms
Includes clear food web,
pyramid, and table.
Lists 2 sources
2-3 sentences, answers
3 of the 4 parts.
11-19 organisms
Missing any 1 part or no
effort put in on
web/pyramid/table
Nutrient cycles
incorrect or not
explained – values not
included in table, etc.
Some thought put in,
but some filler and
mistakes.
Lists 3 sources
Poor Grammar/Spelling,
no artistic appeal, poor
organization
10+ grammatical or
spelling errors/some
organization.
Abiotic Factors
Missing definition, any
cycle, or abiotic factor
table
Human Effects
Poorly written, filler
with no purpose.
Sources
Appeal
All parts of abiotic
factors section.
Clear, detailed, and
thoughtful.
Lists 4 sources
Only 1-2
spelling/grammar
mistakes, organized and
attractive.
Total ______ 18 (weighted to 45 points)