The ecology project required us to research a specific endangered species, and learn ways to find a solution to save them. We had to research all of the things causing the species to be endangered, the things that are already being done to help them, and what we can do to save them. We chose to research the red pandas. We found that they are being affected by deforestation, global warming, and illegal hunting and trapping. Our solution was a poster that will help spread awareness to people.
This our presentation about the Red Pandas:
This our presentation about the Red Pandas:
Concepts:
Organization of Life:
-individual: a single organism
-population: multiple organisms interacting with each other in an area
-community: multiple populations interacting with each other in an area
-ecosystem: a community with abiotic factors
-biome: ecosystems with relating characteristics
-biosphere: all biomes on the planet
Energy creation:
-photosynthesis: the process in which a plant takes carbon dioxide and water with sunlight to create glucose. This happens in the chloroplast.
Organization of Life:
-individual: a single organism
-population: multiple organisms interacting with each other in an area
-community: multiple populations interacting with each other in an area
-ecosystem: a community with abiotic factors
-biome: ecosystems with relating characteristics
-biosphere: all biomes on the planet
Energy creation:
-photosynthesis: the process in which a plant takes carbon dioxide and water with sunlight to create glucose. This happens in the chloroplast.
6H2O + 6CO2 + light = C6 H12O6 + 6O2
-cellular respiration: the process in which a cell uses glucose to produce ATP and carbon dioxide and water. This happens in the mitochondria.
C6 H12O6 + 6O2 = 6H2O + 6CO2 +38 ATP
Symbiosis: How organisms interact with each other in an ecosystem
-Competition two individuals needing the same resource, such as species of birds competing for the same fish (-,-)
-Parasitism/ Consumption : one organisms feeds on or uses another, such as a lion eating a zebra (+,-)
-Commensalism: one organism benefits and the other doesn't have an effect, such as barnacles on whales (+,0)
-Mutualism: Both benefit, like birds cleaning hippos (+,+)
Energy Flow:
Autotroph: a producer, creates energy from the sun, water, and nutrients
1st level consumer: heterotroph; feeds off of Autotrophs
2nd level consumer: eats 1st level consumers.
Apex predator: top of food pyramid; nothing eats it
Only 10% of energy is passed along each of the trophic levels (example: grass--> 10% --> deer --> 10% --> bear --> 10% --> human)
Carbon Cycle: How carbon moves throughout ecosystem. This is a factor in global warming, which is harming the Red Pandas.
-Competition two individuals needing the same resource, such as species of birds competing for the same fish (-,-)
-Parasitism/ Consumption : one organisms feeds on or uses another, such as a lion eating a zebra (+,-)
-Commensalism: one organism benefits and the other doesn't have an effect, such as barnacles on whales (+,0)
-Mutualism: Both benefit, like birds cleaning hippos (+,+)
Energy Flow:
Autotroph: a producer, creates energy from the sun, water, and nutrients
1st level consumer: heterotroph; feeds off of Autotrophs
2nd level consumer: eats 1st level consumers.
Apex predator: top of food pyramid; nothing eats it
Only 10% of energy is passed along each of the trophic levels (example: grass--> 10% --> deer --> 10% --> bear --> 10% --> human)
Carbon Cycle: How carbon moves throughout ecosystem. This is a factor in global warming, which is harming the Red Pandas.
Ecosystems:
-Abiotic factors: non-living factors of the area. These can include everything from the weather and climate to rocks.
-Biotic factors: anything that is living or that was living. These inlclude the plants and animals
-Abiotic factors: non-living factors of the area. These can include everything from the weather and climate to rocks.
-Biotic factors: anything that is living or that was living. These inlclude the plants and animals
Reflection:
For this project, my group had a rough time getting around the edges at first. I had a hard time with leadership, since coming up with strong ideas was a challenge, due to the broadness of the project. I brainstormed many ideas, like focusing on the dolphins or pika, since they are becoming endangered, but neither idea stuck. I also struggled with the research of the project. It was hard to find specific information about the Red Panda, and ended up finding very broad information about them, which ended up being a good amount.
I was very strong in creativity, though, being able to come up with ideas like doing a poster to put around school. I also was very strong with asking for help, by asking other groups how they thought of certain ideas and whether they understood certain information that may seem unclear.
For this project, my group had a rough time getting around the edges at first. I had a hard time with leadership, since coming up with strong ideas was a challenge, due to the broadness of the project. I brainstormed many ideas, like focusing on the dolphins or pika, since they are becoming endangered, but neither idea stuck. I also struggled with the research of the project. It was hard to find specific information about the Red Panda, and ended up finding very broad information about them, which ended up being a good amount.
I was very strong in creativity, though, being able to come up with ideas like doing a poster to put around school. I also was very strong with asking for help, by asking other groups how they thought of certain ideas and whether they understood certain information that may seem unclear.