Diving Into Ecosystems

Lesson 1: Diving Into Ocean Ecosystems Assessment

1. Pinelands are one of the most common B. No light, no photosynthesis terrestrial ecosystems throughout Florida. Fire is C. Tree roots sometimes covered with water, a necessary factor for survival because it rich in nutrients destroys other plants that compete with native D. Dominated by large algae, sunny location Pineland species. Choose the term that best E. Tall grasses and thick mud, significant describes what would occur if fires were not nutrient cycling allowed to burn in the Pinelands. F. Impacted by rough waves, alternating tides G. Wide diversity of organisms, shallow and a. Overgrowth warm waters b. Succession H. Wide open space, large schools of fish c. Decomposition d. Invasive species 5. How do the National Marine Sanctuaries help marine animals? 2. Place an ”A” next to the abiotic factors and a ”B” next to the biotic factors. a. The Sanctuaries offer certain protections for marine organisms. B ____Mangrove plants b. Regulations control the activities that A ____Water take place within the sanctuaries. A ____Sunlight c. Scientists conduct research to learn B ____Phytoplankton more about the marine organisms. B ____Dead tree d. All of the above B ____Humpback Whale 6. Describe the local environment in which you 3. Biotic and abiotic factors within an ecosystem live by identifying at least two biotic and two are separate and do not interact. abiotic components.

a. True Points Criteria b. False 4 Student gives a vivid description of the local environment and correctly identifies 4. Match the ecosystem with its description. at least two biotic and two abiotic components. G____ Coral Reef 3 Student describes the local environment C ____ Mangrove Forest and correctly identifies at least two biotic B ____ Deep Sea and two abiotic components. H ____ Open Ocean 2 Student briefly discusses the local D ____ Kelp Forest environment, but there are minor A ____ Polar Sea inaccuracies or missing components. E ____ Salt Marsh 1 Student incorrectly identifies abiotic and F ____ Rocky Shore biotic components and/or does not adequately describe the local environment. A. Ice covered, extreme variation in seasonal sunlight

Criteria/Score 4 3 2 1 Description of Ecosystem is well Ecosystem is defined, Ecosystem is defined, Ecosystem is not Ecosystem defined, including a including a detailed with some details of the defined and/or details thorough description description of biotic biotic and abiotic factors about the biotic and with details of the biotic and abiotic factors in in the ecosystem and a abiotic factors or map and abiotic factors in the the ecosystem and a map of the locations does not define the ecosystem and a precise map of ecosystem where the ecosystem in ecosystem. map of ecosystem locations. found. locations.

Dominant Dominant species are Dominant species are Dominant species are Description of Plants and described in great detail described in detail and described and images are dominant species Animals and carefully chosen appropriate images are included. lacks significant images are used to included. content and/or images support the description. do not support the description. Habitat Description of the habitat Description of the Description of the habitat Description of the Description is thorough, and includes habitat includes details includes some details habitat lacks details details about the about the components about the components andabout the components components and the and the challenges the challenges organisms and the challenges challenges organisms organisms might face might face in the organisms might face might face in the in the ecosystem. ecosystem. in the ecosystem. ecosystem.

Human Details of current and Details of current and Details of current and Details of current and Impacts future human impacts to future human impacts future human impacts to future human impacts the ecosystem are to the ecosystem are the ecosystem are to the ecosystem lack described completely andwell described. addressed. content and/or details. accurately.

Organization Poster is very well Poster is fairly well Poster has some Poster is poorly & Aesthetics organized and organized and organizational problems. organized. aesthetically pleasing. aesthetically pleasing.