Ecosystems


 * __ Project Ecosystem Exploration __**
 * __ Build your own zoo exhibit! __**


 * Our Mission: **

Building zoo exhibits take a lot of research and planning. The zookeepers want to create the best environment for the animals. They want to make them feel at home in the zoo.

What if Council Bluffs wanted to build a zoo that had exhibits that represented the many different ecosystems that are found on our planet? Who could they call to get the very best information about the plants, animals, and the conditions of those ecosystems? YOU OF COURSE! We are going to become exhibit experts on the seven different ecosystems that our zoo would most like to build. They include…


 * Grasslands
 * Tundra
 * Desert
 * Coniferous forests and deciduous forests
 * A Tropical Rainforest
 * Wetland
 * Saltwater Ecosystem (Ocean)


 * Our Research: **

When researching our ecosystems we need to remember both the living and non-living parts and how the interact with each other.


 * Living Parts: ** Animals, Plants, and other living things
 * Non-living Parts: ** Light/Heat, Air/Water, Rocks/Soil


 * Question that we need to answer: **


 * What animals would your ecosystem need? Think about the animals in your ecosystem are there any that are endangered that we my have trouble finding? **


 * What types of plants would your ecosystem have and why would we need those specific ones? (Think about what animals in your ecosystem eat!) **


 * What type of environment would you create? (Think about what your plants need to survive.) **
 * 1.Think about Light/Heat. What about the temperature? What would the animals and plants of that ecosystem need to survive here in Council Bluffs, Iowa? **
 * 2. Think about Air/Water. Would you need to create any special weather conditions? **
 * 3. Think about Rocks/Soil. What types of landforms are these plants and animals used to? **


 * Where in the world can we find these ecosystems? What areas of the world would you suggest for use to travel to experience and study these ecosystems in person and not just on the Internet? **


 * What would you call your exhibit? **

As you are working with your team you will all be adding information into your groups wiki. This way you’ll all be able share and edit the information you’ve found.

Remember, if you get information from another source whether that be a book, internet site, or database we need to add that to your wiki too, that way we know where we got our information and who we need to give credit to for helping us with our project.
 * Our Project: **


 * We will be creating a power point presentation that shows off all of your research and ideas! **


 * Slide One: The Name of your exhibit **
 * The ecosystem your group researched **
 * Names of member of your group **


 * Slide Two: All about Animals **


 * Slide Three: All about the Plants **


 * Slide Four: The Environment: All about the non-living parts **


 * Slide Five: Location were these ecosystems are found. **
 * Where we would have to travel to in order to get first hand **
 * observations. **

We know that you will all be good researchers and that you may have so much information that on some topics that you may need more than one power point slide to share all of your knowledge, it is okay to use more slides just make sure they stay in order. __     __ Ecosystem Websites __ [|San Diego Zoo] __ __ [|World Book Online] __ __ [|BBC's What Ecosystem's Look Like] __ __ [|Ecosystem Map] __