Ecology Project 2010

Purpose: To investigate the components of, and interrelationships within ecosystems by creating a closed aquatic mini-ecosystem.

Materials:

• Clear glass container at least 750 mL in size with a lid or cap that can create a water-proof seal. Larger openings allow for easier set-up, but are not absolutely essential.
• Pond, aquarium, or aged tap water. You will need to inoculate the aged tap water with pond or aquarium water to add the microscopic organisms necessary in any ecosystem. I can provide this.
• Macroscopic plants (at least one) and animals (at least one). They must be described to at least the Genus level.
• At least one identifiable member of each of the Fungi, Protist, and Monera kingdoms. They should be identified to best of your ability.
• Solid substrate (ie. soil, mud, or rocks).
• Microscope, slides, thermometers, droppers, graduated cylinders, etc. provided by Mr. Jamieson.

Procedure:

• Begin your research! Your textbook is a great start, plus the ecology project delicious.com bookmarks. A tutorial will be given on its use. The powerpoint tutorial is attached below if you would like to view it at home.
• Obtain all materials. Your local pond could provide all that you need. Mr. Jamieson will try to provide a cherry shrimp for those who want one.
• If you buy something, make sure it is very small and that you learn it's scientific name, food requirements, and habitat requirement.
• Build from the substrate up. If using sand or mud, make sure not to make it too deep or it will develop anaerobic conditions on the bottom.
• Add water slowly. Do not disturb the substrate too much. Do not use water straight from the tap as the chlorine will kill microorganisms.
• Add the plant life carefully. Allow some room for growth. Think about light requirements. Too much light and nutrients = algae bloom!
• Add any macroscopic animals now, making sure that the temperature and other conditions won't be too much of a shock.
• Your ecosystem must stay at school for the duration of the project.

Observations:

• Record as much as possible of the initial conditions on the sheet provided, (or print one from below).
• Identify as many of the organisms as you possibly can, and record them on the ID sheet provided, (or print one from below). The microscopes will be essential for this process, plus the posters, books, and the internet.
• Observe and record anything and everything you notice about your ecosystem in your notebook, (or print journal pages from below).
• Remember to be quantitative whenever you can. ie. " 32°C " instead of " really warm ", or " 15 mL " instead of " some water ".
• Record ideas that you have about the relationships in the ecosystem, between organisms, and abiotic factors as well.

Analysis:

1. Describe at least three interactions that you observed between biotic and abiotic components of your ecosystem. Refer to your journal and be as specific as possible.
2. Identify the food web occurring in your ecosystem. Use a colour-code to show Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers. Use arrows to show the movement of nutrients. eg. filamentous green algae ------> spiral shell snail. (Use a full page for this question)
3. Identify consumers as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores.
4. Identify a predator-prey relationship in your ecosystem and cite your related journal entries. (ie. On October 11 I noted that.....) If not possible, research one and include it here.
5. Identify symbiotic relationships from your ecosystem and cite your related entries. If any are not possible, research mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism and include those for your answer.
6. Describe the carbon cycle as it is occurring in your ecosystem. Be as specific as possible. Use "photosynthesis", "respiration", and "decomposition" in your answer!
7. Describe the nitrogen cycle as it is occurring in your ecosystem. You'll need to do some research here.
8. Did your ecosystem "work"? If it turned into a "jar of death", give specific reasons why you think this happened. If it survived, give an estimate for how long you think it could keep going.
9. What considerations are necessary for making a completely closed ecosystem successful? (No water added, no gases exchanged with environment.) If yours was open and worked, do you think it could be sealed and still work? Why or why not?

Class Website: You are expected to contribute a page on one organism after you have become an expert on that organism. To edit you must be invited by email and must sign in.

Block B Block C Block D

Some of the little animals you may find in your ecosystems: