Ecology Scavenger Hunt

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the world wide Eco-Web! Today you are going to embark on an exploration of the essential themes in Ecology. This webquest consists of different sections for each theme. Be sure to use the information in the websites to correctly answer the questions for each step of the process.

Task

TASK

You will be investigatin populations, communities, ecosystems, food chains, food webs and the water, nitrogen and carbon cycle. Then you will investigate the different biomes on Earth. Finally, you will discover how humans have and impact on ecosystems.

Process

PROCESS

Before you begin, dowload and print the ecology worksheet. Use the directions below to find the answers to the questions...

1. Populations
Go to the website http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_population.html 
Answer the questions #a through c


2. Community
Go to the website http://library.thinkquest.org/28343/commun.html 
Answer questions #d and e


3. Ecosystems
To learn about ecosystems go to http://forest.mtu.edu/kidscorner/ecosystems/definition.html 
Answer #f through h


4. Biodiversity
Go to http://www.dublin.ie/environment/biodiversity/home.htm 
Answer #i and j

 

Factors Affecting Biodiversity
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210243/Science%20Station/How%20living%20things%20interact%20with%20their%20environment/relationship%20of%20biotic%20and%20abiotic%20factors.htm
Answer #k and l

 

5. Food Chains
Go to http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/foodchain/foodchain.htm

Use the following organisms to create one:
Snake
Frog
Caterpillar
Owl
Flower
Diagram this on your worksheet!

To answer questions m through o go to
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/animaldiet/herbivore.htm herbivores

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/animaldiet/carnivore.htm carnivores

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/animaldiet/omnivore.htm omnivores

When you have completed #m-o go to http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/games/animaldietgame.htm to play a game to review these these terms


6. Food Webs
Go to http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/food/food_menu.html and choose one of the three food webs. 
Put the food web together!
Now answer # p through r



7. Energy in an Ecosystem
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/science_up_close/314/deploy/interface.html 
Use your worksheet to describe what you learned under #a!

8. The 10% rule
Go to p. 88 in your textbook
Answer #b



9. Carbon cycle
Go to http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/carbon_cycle_version2.html  
Click and complete scene 1 
Answer #c on your worksheet

Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/co2_cycle.html
Read about the carbon cycle and complete #d through i
Diagram the carbon cycle



10. Nitrogen Cycle
Go to the website http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Life/nitrogen_cycle.html&edu=mid 
Diagram the nitrogen cycle
Answer the questions #j through m



11. Water Cycle
Go to http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/water_cycle.html&edu=elem 
Diagram the water cycle



12. Biomes Around the World
Go to http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/index.php 
To answer #n, use your textbook, p. 82
Answer #o 



13. Using your worksheet, write a 100 to 200 word paper (Times New Roman, size 12 font) addressing the following issue:

Construction and housing projects have been held up because of the presence of a rare species. 
Are we really worse off if we lose 1 or 2 species ? AND Why is it so important that we have a variety of species? 

Staple your typed essay to the front of your completed worksheet. 

 

Evaluation

EVALUATION RUBRIC
  Beginning 1 Developing 2 Very Good 3 Exemplary 4 Score
Focus Attempts to take a position (addresses topic), but position is very unclear OR takes a position, but provides minimal or no support; may only paraphrase the prompt. x3 Takes a position and provides uneven support; may lack development in parts or be repetitive OR essay is no more than a well-written beginning. x3 Takes a clear position and supports it with some relevant reasons and/or examples; there is some development of the essay. x3 Takes a clear position and supports it consistently with well-chosen reasons and/or examples; uses many facts to back up position. x3 12
Organization Exhibits little or no apparent organization. x2 Is organized in parts of the essay; other parts are disjointed and/or lack transitions. x2 Is well organized, but may lack some transitions. x2 Is focused and well organized, with effective use of transitions. x2 8
Sentence Fluency and Word Choice Sentences run-on and appear incomplete or rambling; word choice may be inaccurate in much or the entire essay. x2 Sentences lack formal structure; word choice may often be inaccurate. x2 Most sentences are well constructed but have similar structure; word choice lacks variety. x2 Consistently exhibits variety in sentence structure and word choice. x2 8
Conventions Errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation prevent reader from fully understanding essay. x2 Errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation interfere with understanding in much of the essay. x2 More frequent errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation, but they do not interfere with understanding. x2 Errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation are few and do not interfere with understanding. x2 8
Total Score: 36

Conclusion

CONCLUSION

Congratulations! You should now understand why biodiversity is so important. You can now see why learning about food chains, food webs, energy flow, and human impact is so essential.