Biology Spring Semester Project
Mr. Bunn 2012
Your semester project will cover everything we have learned in the second semester:
Diversity, Ecology, and Evolution. You will pick a biome / ecosystem on Earth, and
create a poster board to demonstrate your knowledge of this semester's material.
Standards
SCSh4. Students use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating
scientific equipment and materials.
SB3. Students will derive the relationship between single-celled and multi-celled
organisms and the increasing complexity of systems.
SB4. Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of
energy and matter within their ecosystems.
SB5. Students will evaluate the role of natural selection in the development of the theory
of evolution.
Your Textbook:
Nowicki, Stephen. Biology (2008) Evanston, IL: Mdougal Littell. Chapters 10, 13-21
To GRASP the project you must undestand the following:
Goal- Your goal is to realize how all of the ideas we have learned can apply to the real
living world. In particular your task is to research a biome and apply this semester's
concepts to the organisms and abiotic processes that are found there.
Role- You have been asked to research a particular ecosystem / biome and the biology
within it.
Audience- You need to convince your teacher and classmates you are an expert on the
biology of your particular ecosystem.
Situation- The challenge involves with dealing with the ideas of evolution, ecology,
diversity, and classification all within the the same biome.
Product- You will create a very detailed posterboard so that you can fully demonstrate
your knoweledge of all the material from the second semester of Biology.
Standards and Criteria for Success- Please read the descriptions below and use the
attached rubric. Your work will be judged using the criteria on the rubric.
List of ecosystems / biomes you may chose from: Deciduous Forest, Taiga, Tundra, Frozen Ice Cap,
Open Ocean (Pelagic), Deep Ocean (Abyssal), Intertidal (Beach), Intertidal (Salt Marsh), Freshwater Lakes
/ River, Freshwater Wetland (Swamp), Savannah, Urban, Tropical Rainforest, Temperate Rainforest, Coral
Reef, Desert (Hot), Desert (Cold). Or if you would like to do a very particular area, discuss it with your
teacher for approval. Once you have chosen your ecosystem, you must research the area in depth. You will
learn a great deal about the biology of your particular area. The following 4 areas should be represented on
your poster board:
1. Classification-Pick 3 organisms. One animal, one plant, and one protist / fungi /
prokaryote. (extra credit for Archaea) For each organism provide a picture and
describe each respective taxon (DKPCOF) with a few sentences. Give the
binomial name and provide a picture for each organism.
2. Evolution- Show important developments by building an accurate cladogram for
one of your organisms. Be sure to include at least 5 clades with accurate derived
characters
3. Ecosystem / Biome- give a short paragraph description of your area. Include
common organisms, annual precipitation, and temperature ranges. Give a world
map that shows the locations of your area. (the map may be a stolen picture)
4. Ecology- Create a food web that includes all 3 of your organisms from part 1.
This food web should contain at least 5 organisms that can be found in your
researched ecosystem or biome. Create a diagram explaining the Carbon,
nitrogen, water, or phosphorous cycle. In the diagram, include at least one of your
organisms from part 1
All 4 sections should fit on a single poster board. All work should be your own. Plagiarism = 0 Create all
diagrams, cycles, and the cladogram yourself. The project should be on a poster board at least 50cm x
70cm. Your poster should not be sloppy with pictures falling off. Please see the attached exemplar project.
Each of the 4 areas listed above are indicated in red. You will give a short talk on your research during your
class period on the day you turn in your project. Due Monday May 14 by 4pm. The project is worth 10% of
your final grade. Any work turned in later than 4pm May 14 th will receive a 50%.
Biology: Semester II Project – Spring 2012 Rubric
Total possible points = 100
Part I: Classification
Student chose 3 organisms (1 plant, 1
animal and 1
fungus/protist/prokaryote)
5 points
Student has picture for each organism
5 points
Student correctly identified taxa (from
Student chose less than 3
organisms, or chose organisms
from the same kingdom
0 points
Student missing one picture
3 points
Student correctly identified taxa
for 2 of the 3 organisms
Student missing 2 pictures
1 point
Student correctly identified taxa
for 1 organism
None of the organisms are
correctly identified
7 points
Student correctly wrote the
scientific name for 2 organisms
3 points
3 points
Student correctly wrote the
scientific name for 1 organism
3 points
0 points
All scientific names are
missing or all are incorrect
0 points
10 points
Student correctly wrote the scientific
name for all 3 species
5 points
Part II: Evolution
Cladogram correctly
drawn with 5 clades and
derived characters
15 points
One clade and/or derived
character is missing or
incorrect
More than one clade
and/or derived character
is missing or incorrect
5 points
Cladogram is missing or more
than 2 clades/derived characters
are incorrect
0 points
10 points
Part III: Ecosystem/Biome
Paragraph describes (at least)
the organisms, precipitation
and temperatures of area
15 points
Paragraph is less than 4
sentences and/or is missing
one of the required facts
Paragraph is less than 3
sentences
Paragraph is missing
10 points
Has world map with areas
clearly marked
Has world map, but areas are
not clearly marked
5 points
5 points
Missing world map
10 points
Part IV: Ecology
Food web is correctly drawn with at
least 5 organisms from the same
biome/ecosystem (including all 3
from Part I)
15 points
0 points
0 points
Less than 5 organisms and/or
1 arrow incorrectly drawn
10 points
Food web contains more than 1
arrow incorrectly draw and/or all
organisms are not from the same
biome/ecosystem
5 points
Food web is missing, or food web
does not contain all 3 organisms
from part I
0 points
Cycle Diagram correctly drawn with
an explanation and at least 1
organism from part I
10 points
Neatness
Cycle Diagram explanation
unclear or incorrect
7 points
Missing either the explanation or
the diagram and/or missing
organism from part I
5 points
For all written parts, spelling and grammar will count towards your grade!!
Project is well put together, nicely
drawn or typed, with no parts falling
off.
Project has a slight degree of
sloppiness and appears to be
thrown together at the last
minute.
10 Points
5 Points
Project is very sloppy and appears
to lack any effort at all.
0 Points
Missing explanation and diagram
0 points
Due date: