Many Thousands of Years Ago, the Baxter Island Rat Lived on Baxter Island . a Map of The

Rat Island

History

Many thousands of years ago, the Baxter Island Rat lived on Baxter Island. A map of the island and a picture of the rat are below.

Baxter Island

Eventually, Baxter Island broke up into four smaller, isolated islands. These islands are called Barnard, MacKenzie, Mollison and Rowan Islands.

Barnard Island Mollison Island Rowan Island

MacKenzie Island The Task

You are required to select an island type (Barnard, Mackenzie, Mollison, or Rowan below) and draw the island on an A4 sheet of paper. On a separate A4 sheet of paper, you are required to design and draw a rat that is suited to your island environment. You need to point out these adaptations on your drawing of the rat, explaining how they help it to survive. Your rat needs to have at least four physical adaptations and one behavioral adaptation (ask your teacher if you are not sure of the difference).

Baxter Island Rat Common Ancestor

Barnard Island Rat MacKenzie Island Rat Mollison Island Rat Rowan Island Rat Barnard Island

The island is fairly flat, with an occasional hill. The ground is soft dirt, and several species of shrubs grow towards the center of the island. There is no animal life on land; but the water is teaming with fish. The island is surrounded by a coral reef which keeps the predators out. The shore is sandy with no algal growth. Fresh water is available. Mackenzie Island

The island has a rocky shoreline. Numerous tide pools dot the island along the shore where the wave action is somewhat sheltered by rock outcrops. The tide pools host barnacles, chitons, abalone, sea urchins and crabs. Algae grows all around the island; however, it is quite sparse in the tide pools where the various animals feed. The current is quite strong along the rocky outcrops where the algae grows best. Fresh water is available. Mollison Island

The island is somewhat barren. A few species of cactus thrive on the bare rocks. A large cactus-eating tortoise inhabits the island. A species of very large bird nest on the island annually. They build their nests on the rocks, and protect their eggs from the sun by standing over the nests with outspread wings. The nests are always found on the windy side of the island which is somewhat cooled by offshore breezes. Rowan Island

The island is an extinct volcano. Vegetation on the island changes with the altitude moving up the volcano. Grasses grow at the base. Further up the slope the grasses give way to low shrubs. Half way up, the island becomes quite lush; tropical plants and trees dominate the landscape. At this altitude, the island experiences frequent rain showers. There are two species of birds that inhabit the island. One is a raptor which preys upon the smaller birds. The other fishes the waters approximately one mile offshore. Both nest in trees. What you need to hand in:

 Picture of rat island,  Reflection  Picture of rat with labeled adaptations Very High High Medium Low Very Low/Not Shown (4 marks) (3 marks) (2 marks) (1 mark) (0 Marks) Rat Adaptations  Has more than four  Has more than four  Has four physical  Has less than four  No adaptations physical physical adaptations physical shown adaptations adaptations  Has one adaptations  Has more than one  Has one behavioural  Has one behavioural behavioural adaptation behavioural adaptation adaptation adaptation Explanations of   Survival  Survival  Survival  Survival Adaptations S explanations are explanations would explanations explanations absent detailed and would help the animal limited help survival survive Creativity of   Adaptations highly  Adaptations  Adaptations linked  Adaptations not Adaptations A original and linked original and linked to problems on the shown to problems on the to problems on the island island island Graphical   Attention to detail  Some attention to  Little attention to  No attention to Presentation A high detail detail detail  All labels accurate  Most labels  Some labels  No labels used   Headings used accurate accurate  No headings used A appropriately  Headings used  Some attempt to appropriately use headings  H

Reflection   Insightful reflection  Good reflection  Some reflection  No reflection V  All components  Most components  Some components attempted answered answered answered  A Rat Island reflection

Did you have a strategy for completing the different parts of the assessment? How did you do it? ______

Did your strategy work? How do you know? ______

What did you find the hardest part, and why? Drawing? Thinking Creatively? Writing answers to questions? Something else? ______

What part of your assessment are you most proud of? Why? ______

Did you use the rubric? Did it help you plan your work? How could it be improved to help you even more? ______

If you had to do the same assessment again, how would you do it differently? ______