Lesson 1.2: Build an Ecosystem

In this part, you will be asked to build an ecosystem inside a large pop bottle.  If you are doing this in winter, you will have difficulty getting some earthworms! You may need to add a kettle of hot water to the garden to thaw out some dirt for the experiment, providing you do not live in an apartment. 

If doing the experiment is impossible for you, think of what might happen if you actually did the experiment.  Use materials you have available.  For example, you can do the experiment without a thermometer because you can tell qualitatively if something is getting hotter or colder. 

Read Build an Ecosystem on page 275 of your textbook. Be aware of the following questions as you build the ecosystem. Then, answer the following questions.

 

Question 1. What observations did you make during a two-week period?

Question 2. What are the abiotic factors in the ecosystem?

Question 3. What are the biotic factors in the ecosystem?

Question 4. How is your model similar to an actual ecosystem?

 

Check your answers with those that follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers to Questions:

Question 1. What observations did you make during a two-week period?

Following are some things you may have seen.  The earthworms moved into the soil.  The plant seeds germinated after a few days and then grew a bit.  It got warmer in sunlight.  Additional bugs may have appeared.

Question 2. What are the abiotic factors in the ecosystem?

The abiotic factors were soil, sand, gravel, dry leaves, water, sunlight, and the plastic bottle.

Question 3. What are the biotic factors in the ecosystem?

The biotic factors were earthworms, plants, and perhaps additional insects from the soil or the air.

Question 4. How is your model similar to an actual ecosystem?

The model is similar to an actual ecosystem because plants and animals interact and use nutrients from the environment.  Sunlight is necessary for the plants to grow.

 



Now, do Assignment 14A. Page forward to access it.