Invasive, Keystone, Indicator, Extinct, Endangered, and Threatened
Species Partner Project
AP Environmental Science
Due Date: TUESDAY, 11/5/13
Modified: Nancy Nicholls Endangered Species Project, T. Delli Paoli, modified 2013
You will be researching and assembling a venue of different types of species. You may assemble this
project in the one of the ways listed below.
 Powerpoint (must be printed out)
 Poster
 Paper
Each one of these species has impacts on biodiversity and environmental stability. Please research
and organize your information into reasonable tables for each species. It is preferable that you
place each type of species on its own page. Here are some sites to help get you started.
Invasive Species: http://www.issg.org/database/species/search.asp?st=100ss&fr=1&sts=#SpeciesList
Endangered Species: http://www.endangeredspecie.com/
Keystone Species: http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/keystone-species-15786127
Threatened Species: http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Requirements:
1. Choose six different species – one from each of the following categories: Endangered, Extinct,
Indicator, Invasive, Keystone, and Threatened
2. One must be native to Illinois
3. One must be native to the US
4. One must be global
5. One must be a plant
Write succinctly about each species making sure to include following:
1. Background information about each species
2. Identifying characteristics/traits
3. Reasons for their status
4. Solutions/ successes/ possible courses of action for protection or removal
5. Display pictures of each species
6. A map of the native habitat and/or current distribution of the species
7. A bibliography with at least two citations per species –Wikipedia.is not allowed.
Physical characteristics of your paper:
Setup: Tables for each type of species
Margins: 0.5 inches
Font: Century Gothic, 11 point
Grading Rubric: See attached
APES
Species Report Grading Rubric:
Names of Partners________________________________
__________________________________________________
Date turned in: ___________________
A. Endangered Species
1. Common Name and Scientific Name
2. Characteristics and traits of species
3. Habitat, niche,
4. Current Population vs past population
5. Distribution Map
6. Cause of endangerment
7. Solutions/ successes/ possible courses of action for protection
8. 2 Pictures of the endangered species
9. How does the Endangered Species Act of 1973 offer protection for your
species? Explain.
10. Explain how CITES (International Convention on International Endangered
Species) is effective in the protection of any endangered species.
11. Bibliography with at least two citations (MLA Format)
Sub-total
B.
Extinct Species
1. Common name and Scientific Name
2. Characteristics and traits of species
3. Habitat and niche
4. Date of extinction
5. Cause of extinction
6. Picture of the extinct species
7. Bibliography with at least two citations (MLA Format)
Sub-total
C. Indicator Species
1. Common Name and Scientific Name
2. Characteristics and traits of species
3. Habitat and niche
4. Successes and protection of species?
5. 2 Pictures of species
6. Bibliography with at least two citations (MLA format)
Sub-total
D. Invasive Species
1. Common Name and Scientific Name
2. Characteristics and traits of species
3. Native habitat location and niche
4. New habitat and niche
5. Adaptations which allow species to survive in new habitat
and how has these adaptations affected the invaded ecosystem?
6. Map of native habitat or distribution
7. Courses of action for removal of species
8. 2 Pictures: 1) invasive species and 2) affected species
9. Bibliography with at least two citations (MLA format)
Sub-total
___/ 2
___/ 3
___/ 2
___/ 2
___/ 2
___/ 5
___/ 5
___/ 3
___/ 5
___/ 5
___ /4
___ / 38
___/ 2
___/ 3
___/ 2
___/ 2
___/ 5
___/ 2
___ /4
____/ 20
___/ 2
___/ 3
___/ 2
___/ 2
___/ 3
___/ 4
___/16
___/ 2
___/ 3
___/ 3
___/ 3
___/ 3
___/ 3
___/ 3
___/ 4
___/ 4
___/ 28
E. Keystone Species
1. Common name and scientific name
2. Characteristics and traits of species
3. Native habitat and niche
4. Adaptations which allow species to operate as a keystone
5. Map of distribution
6. Picture of keystone
7. Bibliography with at least two citations (MLA)
Sub-total
F.
Threatened Species
1. Common name and scientific name
2. Characteristics and traits of species
3. Habitat, niche,
4. Current Population
5. Cause of threatened status
6. Solutions/ successes/ possible courses of action for protection
7. 1 Pictures of the threatened species
8. Who is the IUCN and its involvement with threatened species
9. Bibliography with at least two citations (MLA Format)
Sub-total
Sub-total
___/ 2
___/ 3
___/ 3
___/ 3
___/ 3
___/ 2
___/ 4
___/20
___/ 2
___/ 3
___/ 2
___/ 2
___/ 3
___/ 5
___/ 3
___/ 3
___ /4
___/ 27
____/149
G.
H.
I.
J.
One species must be native to Illinois
One species must be native to the US
One species must be global
One species must be a plant
____/ 5
____/ 5
____/ 5
____/ 5
K.
Neatly organized
____/ 5
L. Grammar and spelling are perfect
____/ 3
M. Grading Sheet attached to project
____/ 3
TOTAL PROJECT POINTS
____/180
Remember: Place information in your own words. Any part of this project which is copied directly from the
source will be considered plagiarized. Plagiarism will result in a zero for this project and a note will be
added to your student file.
If project is turned late without prior consent of teacher, 10% per day will be deducted from the project.
If this project is completed by a single individual, 10 points extra credit will be awarded to this project score.
Sample Template for Species Project
Endangered Species
Common Name
Scientific Name
(Genus species)
Pictures
Habitat and niche
Populations
Distribution Map
Causes of
endangerment
Solutions/successes
Endangered
Species Act
(include which
amendment
applies)
CITES
Bibliography
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus