Introduction
Our city is growing, but our wildlife is disappearing! The City Council has just announced a "Green Space Challenge." They are looking for a team of environmental consultants to transform a vacant, paved lot in the center of the city into a thriving, self-sustaining mini-ecosystem. Can you design a space where humans and nature coexist without the ecosystem collapsing?
Task
Your mission is to create an Ecosystem Restoration Proposal. By the end of this quest, you will produce:
1. A Species Map showing at least 10 interdependent organisms (producers, consumers, decomposers).
2. A Food Web Diagram illustrating energy flow.
3. A Sustainability Pitch (300 words) explaining how your design protects biodiversity.
Process
• Step 1: Form a group of three. Assign roles: Botanist (Plants/Producers), Zoologist (Animals/Consumers), and Ecologist (Interactions/Sustainability).
• Step 2: Research native species in your region using the links in the Resources section.
• Step 3: Use a digital tool (like Canva or Google Drawings) to create your Food Web.
• Step 4: Draft your proposal, ensuring you explain what happens if one "keystone species" is removed.
• Step 5: Upload your final document or link to the class folder.
Evaluation
Criteria
• Scientific Accuracy
• Diversity
• Creativity
Beginning (1)
• Major errors in food chain logic.
• Fewer than 5 species included.
• Minimal effort in design.
Developing (2)
• Some links in the food web are incorrect.
• 5-7 species included.
• Neat but basic presentation.
Accomplished (3)
• Most species interactions are realistic.
• 8-10 species included.
• Visually engaging and organized.
Exemplary (4)
• Flawless food web and energy flow logic.
• Over 10 species with diverse roles.
• Professional-grade proposal and map.
Conclusion
Congratulations, Consultant! You’ve learned that building an ecosystem is about more than just planting trees; it’s about understanding the delicate balance of life. Think about your own backyard or local park—what is one small change you could make this week to support local biodiversity?
Credits
Rona Nasirin
Resources: Grade 9 Science (Biology) unit.