Wildlife Preserve Project Objective: Students will choose a biome and design a model wildlife preserve. They will identify native species that might inhabit such a preserve and do research to find out what conditions are essential to maintain those animals and plants. They will discover how all the animals and plants in an ecosystem interact and how human intervention may affect that ecosystem.

First Things First 1.Have you met the objectives? 2.Do you have a typed report? 3.Is your model complete? 4.Have you created note cards with information about your wildlife preserve? 5.Have you named your preserve?

Checklist Biome: 1. Description of physical characteristics 2. How does the physical characteristics of your preserve affect the plants and animals that live there? 3. How do your plants and animals survive in your chosen biome?

Native Plants and Animals Two native plants and their adaptations for survival in your biome. Two vertebrates and their adaptations for survival. Two invertebrates and their adaptations for survival.

1,2,3,4,5: Levels of Complexity How does the structure of your plants and animals fit their function? In other words, how does the way they are made affect how they survive? Example: A jelly fish is an animal that is made up of specialized cells that form tissue. This tissue performs the job of protection. This feature is important considering that a jelly fish has neither an endoskeleton or exoskeleton.

Specialized Structures Discuss special features that your animals have that are adaptations for survival. Teeth, bilateral or radial symmetry, wings, gills, scales, endoskeleton, exoskeleton…

Parent and Offspring Similar characteristics Physical and behavioral

Reproduction Sexual or asexual Lay eggs Live birth Care for young Water or land Nest One or more offspring at a time

Obtain Energy How does your animal get food? What type of food does it need? How is your animal adapted to catch its prey?

Innate or Learned behaviors Discuss the behaviors that your animals possess that help them survive in their habitat. Inherited behaviors: A salamander raised away from water can swim when put into water, touching a hot object and moving your hand. Learned behaviors: Hunting, birds singing a particular song, children learning about animals!

Human Effect How have humans impacted the area where you have chosen to build your preserve? Pollution, deforestation, poaching, urban sprawl. How can you undo any damage done?

Last Time Have you marked everything off from your checklist? Have you read the paper “Wildlife Preserve Activity” again? Have you done a self evaluation using your rubric? Be prepared to answer questions about your preserve.