Terraqua Column (TAC) Project

TerrAqua Column (TAC) Project

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project is to construct a functional micro-ecosystem that will support living organisms. The underlying principles of the structure and function of ecosystems will be studied and explored in class. The creation of micro-ecosystems will provide you with the opportunity to apply your understanding of these concepts. Ecosystems involve the interaction of biotic and abiotic factors plus the establishment of complex relationships between organisms and their environment over long periods of time. Groups of three to four students will work on a single ecosystem. Each person will turn in their own final project report.

PROCEDURE: - You will construct the bottle biology ecosystem - Put the names of each group member on your ecosystem and place it on the window sill - You will be making observations, collecting data, and analyzing the data on specific days

DAILY OBSERVATIONS: On the days we do observations, you will observe the following: - Fish breathing rate - Percent plant germination - Plant growth - Any changes in water color or level - What is alive and what died - Later you will make several graphs of the data collected - Add water to land if soil is dry – measure in mL

FINAL REPORT: (USE THIS AS A CHECKLIST)

1. COVER SHEET WITH DIAGRAM OF ECOSYSTEM 14. SUMMARY (COLORED AND LABELED ON WHITE PAPER) 15. CONCLUSION 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS 16. REPORT 3. INTRODUCTION TO TAC

4. ABIOTIC FACTORS, PRODUCERS & CONSUMERS

5. RECIPE / DATA TABLE 1 / COMMENTS

6. FISH: DATA TABLE 2 / COMMENTS

7. PLANTS: DATA TABLE 3 / DATA TABLE 4

8. DATA TABLE 5

9. GRAPH 1 / GRAPH 2

10. GRAPH 3 / GRAPH 4

11. WATER CYCLE (AS IT OCCURS IN YOUR SYSTEM)

12. CARBON / OXYGEN CYCLE (AS IT OCCURS IN YOUR SYSTEM)

13. NITROGEN CYCLE (AS IT OCCURS IN YOUR SYSTEM) ECOSYSTEM BOTTLE PROJECT RUBRIC (Please staple/include at the end of the report)

What needs to be included Points Possible Points Earned Title Page Name 1” margin Title in all CAPITAL letters 6 Hand-drawn diagram (Hand-drawn) (Colored) Table of Contents 2 Title of each page and page # Intro to TAC 2

Abiotic/Biotic Factors 5

Recipe/ Data Table 1 10

Data Table 2 5

Data Table 3 / Data Table 4 10

Data Table 5 / Recipes 10 Graphs 1 & 2 Title 10 Axes Labeled Graphs 3 & 4 Title 10 Axes Labeled Water Cycle Hand-drawn 10 Colored Carbon/Oxygen Cycle Hand-drawn 10 Colored Nitrogen Cycle Hand-drawn 10 Colored Summary 5

Conclusion 5

Report 15

TOTAL 125 Guidelines for Data Tables

Data Table 1: pH of soil and water Material Initial pH Final pH Soil Water Comments:

Data Table 2: Daily Log of Fish Breathing Rate Date Breathing Rate (per minute)

Comments:

Data Table 3: Log of Percent Germination Date Percent Germinated

Comments:

Data Table 4: Daily Log of Plant Growth Date Height of Stem (cm) # of Leaves

Data Table 5 (Class Data): Class Results Group Number % Germinated Stem Height (cm) Date Fish Died 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Recipes and pH: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Guidelines for Graphs

Graph 1: Graph 3: Rate of Germination for Group Percent Germination for Each Group *on graph paper *on graph paper *Line Graph *Bar Graph (include Title, Axes labeled) (include Title, Axes labeled)

Graph 2: Graph 4 Rate of Stem Growth for Group Stem Height for Each Group *on graph paper *on graph paper *Line Graph *Bar Graph (include Title, Axes labeled) (include Title, Axes labeled)

Guidelines for Cycle Drawings

- Need to be hand-drawn and colored - See example for guidance

Summary

You will write a complete summary of everything your group did during this project. From how you built your ecosystem, to what and where you recorded results, to how you plan on comparing each variable in your conclusion. This is where you will mention any unusual interesting events or observations.

Conclusion

Address each of the variables – BE SPECIFIC!

Use the graphs and data tables as your references

Be NEAT, COMPLETE AND COHERENT

Report

Group 1: Rhizobium Group 5: Hypoxia Group 2: Nitrosomonas Group 6: History of Fertilizer Group 3: Eutrophication Group 7: Algal Bloom in Freshwater Lakes Group 4: George Washington Carver Group 8: Sustainable Development of Land

Guidelines: - Summarize research of the topics in YOUR OWN WORDS - 300 words - Works cited