Your major project requires you to investigate and develop a scientific test to answer the question; Can a self-sustaining closed ecosystem be created in a simple environment.
The project itself is designed as an opportunity for you to apply the Scientific Method. You will develop a falsifiable hypothesis, test it and analyze the results, looking for possible errors.
Your ecosystem build must be a fully self-sustaining closed ecosystem. It must be fully sealed and reflect all the elements of the Earth's Spheres and be capable of sustaining life.
PLAN – do not assume that you can simply place various items in a sealed container, and it will work. If not done correctly, you can cause harm to biotic factors in your ecosystem. If you are causing harm you are to open the system and provide the missing element(s). The intention of this project is not to cause harm to any living organism.
This project may be completed with a partner or individually. You will need to record ALL information for your ecosystem as a scientific log/journal, monitoring your system closely and making observations of the elements in your system and interactions between the systems. The final project will be presented as a website unless otherwise agreed upon with your teacher.
BEFORE YOU START …
COMPLETE RESEARCH – you will want to be able to discuss factors (including some Biology) AND Earths Systems. Investigate all elements that will contribute to your ecosystem. Initially you will keep this information in your scientific journal, and it will become the basis of your background information on your website.
Consider the materials available to you for your build AND factors such as the environment where it to be set up as these factors will impact your ability to build and the interactions within your ecosystem ex. temperature fluctuations in the area that you set your lab up in.
Look for connections between elements that you can scientifically discuss on your website as well as interactions between biotic components and ecosystems services within your ecosystem that allow it to work. You should be able to include Biology, Earth's Systems, and Chemistry.
You will need to investigate how nutrient(s) and energy will flow within your system.
You will need to be able to test your atmospheric gas (for either O2 or CO2) soil for various nutrients, and water if present, at the beginning of your lab and then again at the end to see if levels change.
YOU will have to research methodology for those tests, and we will discuss this further at a later date.
Your research and build must be completed with the week so that you can close the system and record the interactions over the next coupe opf weeks.
NOTE - Your website will be submitted and presented at a later date (to be announced) and must answer the TESTABLE QUESTION (hint you need a hypothesis): Can a self-sustaining closed ecosystem be created in a laboratory environment AND show the Scientific Method at work.
REMEMBER – always collect your references (APA format) as you will be using them later.
The project itself is designed as an opportunity for you to apply the Scientific Method. You will develop a falsifiable hypothesis, test it and analyze the results, looking for possible errors.
Your ecosystem build must be a fully self-sustaining closed ecosystem. It must be fully sealed and reflect all the elements of the Earth's Spheres and be capable of sustaining life.
PLAN – do not assume that you can simply place various items in a sealed container, and it will work. If not done correctly, you can cause harm to biotic factors in your ecosystem. If you are causing harm you are to open the system and provide the missing element(s). The intention of this project is not to cause harm to any living organism.
This project may be completed with a partner or individually. You will need to record ALL information for your ecosystem as a scientific log/journal, monitoring your system closely and making observations of the elements in your system and interactions between the systems. The final project will be presented as a website unless otherwise agreed upon with your teacher.
BEFORE YOU START …
COMPLETE RESEARCH – you will want to be able to discuss factors (including some Biology) AND Earths Systems. Investigate all elements that will contribute to your ecosystem. Initially you will keep this information in your scientific journal, and it will become the basis of your background information on your website.
Consider the materials available to you for your build AND factors such as the environment where it to be set up as these factors will impact your ability to build and the interactions within your ecosystem ex. temperature fluctuations in the area that you set your lab up in.
Look for connections between elements that you can scientifically discuss on your website as well as interactions between biotic components and ecosystems services within your ecosystem that allow it to work. You should be able to include Biology, Earth's Systems, and Chemistry.
You will need to investigate how nutrient(s) and energy will flow within your system.
You will need to be able to test your atmospheric gas (for either O2 or CO2) soil for various nutrients, and water if present, at the beginning of your lab and then again at the end to see if levels change.
YOU will have to research methodology for those tests, and we will discuss this further at a later date.
Your research and build must be completed with the week so that you can close the system and record the interactions over the next coupe opf weeks.
NOTE - Your website will be submitted and presented at a later date (to be announced) and must answer the TESTABLE QUESTION (hint you need a hypothesis): Can a self-sustaining closed ecosystem be created in a laboratory environment AND show the Scientific Method at work.
REMEMBER – always collect your references (APA format) as you will be using them later.