Biology Spring Semester Project

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 complete the following requirements for that area.

List of Ecosystems / Biomes: 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.

  1. Classification-Pick 3 organisms. One animal, one plant, and one protist / fungi / prokaryote. EC for Archaea! For each organism provide a picture and describe each respective taxon (DKPCOF) with a few sentences. Give the Binomial nameand provide a picture for each organism.
  1. 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
  1. 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)
  1. 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 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. You will give a short talk on your research during your class period on the day you turn in your project. Due Monday May 16th by 4pm. Project = 10% of your final grade. Any work turned in later than 4pm May 16th will receive a 50.

Biology: Semester II Project – Spring 2011

Part I: Classification

Student chose 3 organisms (1 plant, 1 animal and 1 fungus/protist/prokaryote)
5 points / Student chose less than 3 organisms, or chose organisms from the same kingdom
0 points
Student has picture for each organism
5 points / Student missing one picture
3 points / Student missing 2 pictures
1 point
Student correctly identified taxa (from domainfamily) for each organism
10 points / Student correctly identified taxa for 2 of the 3 organisms
7 points / Student correctly identified taxa for 1 organism
3 points / None of the organisms are correctly identified
0 points
Student correctly wrote the scientific name for all 3 species
5 points / Student correctly wrote the scientific name for 2 organisms
3 points / Student correctly wrote the scientific name for 1 organism
3 points / All scientific names are missing or all are incorrect
0 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
10 points / 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

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
10 points / Paragraph is less than 3 sentences
5 points / Paragraph is missing
0 points
Has world map with areas clearly marked
10 points / Has world map, but areas are not clearly marked
5 points / Missing world map
0 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 / 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 / Cycle Diagram explanation unclear or incorrect
7 points / Missing either the explanation or the diagram and/or missing organism from part I
5 points / Missing explanation and diagram
0 points
Neatness 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.
10 Points / Project has a slight degree of sloppiness and appears to be thrown together at the last minute.
5 Points / Project is very sloppy and appears to lack any effort at all.
0 Points

Due date: May 16th