The Project
For this project, we had to choose an endangered species or ecosystem and try to come up with a solution to help save it. After doing some research, we narrowed our decision down to the ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef located in Australia--more specifically, the overpopulation of the crown-of-thorns starfish and the over-collection/over-fishing of the giant Triton, which is a sea snail in the same reef as the crown-of-thorns starfish and the crown-of-thorns starfish's only population regulator. The crown of thorns starfish feeds on the top layer of live corals that live in the reef with them. When there is normal starfish density (well regulated by a normal density of giant Tritons), all is well; but when the starfish density gets too high, the starfish can decimate the reef. To address this issue, we aimed to raise awareness about over fishing of the giant Triton.
Our Presentation
Content
Ecology
The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Biosphere/biomes
Biosphere--Where all life exists.
Biome--Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities.
Biome--Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities.
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis--The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. (6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy = C6H12O6 + 6O2)
Cellular Respiration--Cellular respiration takes in food and uses it to create ATP, a chemical which the cell uses for energy. Usually, this process uses oxygen, and is called aerobic respiration. It has four stages known as glycolysis, Link reaction, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain. (C6H12O6 + 6O2 ---> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP)
Cellular Respiration--Cellular respiration takes in food and uses it to create ATP, a chemical which the cell uses for energy. Usually, this process uses oxygen, and is called aerobic respiration. It has four stages known as glycolysis, Link reaction, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain. (C6H12O6 + 6O2 ---> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP)
population/population density
A population is a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species, which is isolated from other groups. In population ecology, a population is a group of individuals of the same species inhabiting the same area.
density dependent- unaffected by the population density
density independent- factors do not depend on the population density
density dependent- unaffected by the population density
density independent- factors do not depend on the population density
nutrient cycles
Phosphorus- Phosphorus moves in a cycle through rocks, water, soil and sediments and organisms.
Water- The water cycle describes how water evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls again to the surface as precipitation.
Nitrogen- The nitrogen cycle describes how nitrogen moves between plants, animals, bacteria, the atmosphere (the air), and soil in the ground.
Carbon- The carbon cycle is the process through which carbon is cycled through the air, ground, plants, animals, and fossil fuels.
Water- The water cycle describes how water evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and falls again to the surface as precipitation.
Nitrogen- The nitrogen cycle describes how nitrogen moves between plants, animals, bacteria, the atmosphere (the air), and soil in the ground.
Carbon- The carbon cycle is the process through which carbon is cycled through the air, ground, plants, animals, and fossil fuels.
climate
Climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.
weather
Weather is the day-to-day state of the atmosphere, and its short-term variation in minutes to weeks.
Food web/food chain
A food web consists of many food chains. A food chain only follows just one path as animals find food.
trophic levels
the trophic level is the position that an organism occupies in a food chain - what it eats, and what eats it. Some different trophic levels are primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and the tertiary consumer/top level consumer.
abiotic/biotic
Abiotic- non-living
Biotic- living
Biotic- living
ecological succession
Two different types of succession—primary and secondary—have been distinguished. Primary succession occurs in essentially lifeless areas (no soil) where Secondary succession occurs in places with soil.
Symbiotic relationships
Competition- when individuals use the same resources resulting in lower fitness for both ( - , -)
Consumption- when one organism eats or absorbs nutrients from another ( + , - )
Mutualism- when two species interact in a way that confers fitness benefits for both ( + , + )
Commensalism- when one species benefits but the other species is unaffected ( + , o )
Parisitism- the practice of living as a parasite in or on another organism ( + , - )
Consumption- when one organism eats or absorbs nutrients from another ( + , - )
Mutualism- when two species interact in a way that confers fitness benefits for both ( + , + )
Commensalism- when one species benefits but the other species is unaffected ( + , o )
Parisitism- the practice of living as a parasite in or on another organism ( + , - )
biodiversity
the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem
Reflection
Overall, this project went smoothly. I feel like I learned a lot about ecology as well as myself. During this project, I really developed my leadership skills. I did this by contributing more ideas and helping other groupmates when they needed help. I also was very cooperative. A specific example was when a group member wanted to focus on the Great Barrier Reef and another group member wanted to address a specific species, so I suggested we compromise by doing the Great Barrier Reef with a focus on the Giant Triton. This way everyone got their way. I also did a good job on my work ethic by staying on task. One thing that didn't go as well was that we didn't give ourselves enough time to figure out the presentation; had we provided ourselves greater time to work it through, we probably would have had a stronger presentation. Otherwise, many things in this project were successful, and it was really enjoyable, too!