In this project, you invent a new organism and describe its ecosystem. You are required to submit this project to your teacher for marks. Very carefully, read the whole project and how to do it. Be sure to read the requirements and rubric, they explain the expectations for this project and how it will be marked. Click here if you need tips on how to create a good project!
Situation
In the future, genetic engineering could lead to the development of new species on Earth.
If you could invent a new organism on Earth, what would it look like? How would it survive and reproduce? What would its ecosystem be like?
Project Task
Use your imagination to invent your own organism and its ecosystem.
Before you begin designing your organism and ecosystem, ask yourself these questions:
What type of environment does my organism live in?
What adaptations does my organism need to survive?
What do I know about organisms and how they interact in ecosystems? How can I use this knowledge as I design a new organism and ecosystem?
Method
Design your own organism and its ecosystem, making sure to include the information listed in the Requirements section below.
Choose the way you would like to communicate your organism and ecosystem design. Here are some ideas from which you can choose:
Draw pictures and diagrams of your organism and its ecosystem. Draw with pencil and paper, or use a computer drawing program such as Adobe Photoshop or Gimp.
Write a story about your organism and its ecosystem.
Build an organism and its ecosystem in Minecraft and take screenshots.
Build a model of your organism and its ecosystem. Then, photograph or video various aspects of your model to share with your teacher.
Use other creative ideas, but check with your teacher first!
Requirements
You must complete the following six requirements to communicate clearly the following information about your organism and ecosystem design.
You can provide written answers to these questions, or you can include the answers as labels if you produce a drawing or model of your design.
Another option is to address these questions by recording yourself (and your model or drawings) on video or make an audio recording.
1. Adaptations of Organism
Identify two survival adaptations of your organism. Explain how these adaptations help your organism survive in its ecosystem.
You may use adaptations already in existence, such as adaptations used for camouflage, adaptations used to avoid predators, or imagine your own.
2. Heredity of Organism
List and explain 2 discrete and 2 continuous characteristics in your organism. You must explain WHY the characteristics you have chosen are discrete or continuous.
Describe 2 heritable and 2 non-heritable characteristics in your organism.
Describe 1 dominant trait and 1 recessive trait in your organism.
3. Cell Division of Organism
Describe the type of cell division your organism uses to produce its muscle cells. Be sure to explain how this type of cell division works.
Describe the type of cell division your organism uses to produce its gametes. Be sure to explain how this type of cell division works.
4. Organism’s Relationships in Ecosystem
Describe and fully explain one example of each of the following relationships between your organism and other species in your ecosystem.
Interspecies competition
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
5. Asexual Reproduction in Ecosystem
Identify two organisms in your ecosystem that use different but specific forms of asexual reproduction.
Describe each form of asexual reproduction.
You can use organisms in existence (or imagine your own) in your ecosystem.
6. Organism Variation in Ecosystem
Give an example of how artificial selection might benefit your organism.
Give an example of how natural selection benefits your organism and describe how this is different from artificial selection.
Note that when you submit anything to your teacher, PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME IN THE DOCUMENT TITLE. For example, you might title it something like this:
