Project: Be a Field Ecologist

Purpose: To identify/categorize examples of various species from your community, and to recognize/examine relationships these species share within their environment.

Procedure/Requirements:

1. Put together a title page and introduction. It should include your name, class period, due date, and the phrase “Submitted to Dr. Kostenko to meet the requirements of Environmental Science.” Your introductory paragraph should be a 200-300 word description of our environment and the general types of plant and animal life found here. Then you will show your examples…

2. Identify and collect samples of the following species from your environment:

1. Two trees: ____________ ____________
2. Two plants ____________ ____________
3. Two vertebrates ____________ ____________
4. Two invertebrates ____________ ____________
5. Bonus (you pick 2) ____________ ____________

IMPORTANT: You can use original pictures, drawings, rubbings, or actual samples of the organism (leaves, flowers, teeth, feathers, shells, etc.). However, you MAY NOT harm or endanger any organisms in the process of your collection. You have four “OUTS.” This means if collecting any of the above samples is too difficult, you can use a “stock photo” accompanied by a description of the time, place, and circumstance in which you encountered the organism. Points will be deducted per “out” used over four.

3. Use ecological field guides (book and internet) to identify and report on the samples you collected. You must provide the following information:

1. Common name
2. Scientific name
3. Species sample
4. Information about the species (50-100 words)

4. Identify examples of the following relationships from your environment:

1. One predator/prey __________________
2. One mutualism or commensalism __________________
3. Bonus (your choice) __________________

5. Using various reference materials, report on the examples you came up with. You must provide the following information:

1. Common names of the species involved
2. Scientific names of the species involved
3. Description of the nature of the relationship and how the two organisms interact in the wild (50-100 words).

SUPER IMPORTANT: All information must be typed and presented with samples in a neat and organized fashion.