Assessment 3 Worksheet Instructions Please see the “Assessment 3 Instructions” document for guidelines. Some hints Part 1: Conservation 1. Biodiversity benefits and threats related to your species (answer below): Benefits: Maintaining biodiversity is water is crucial for the continued and improved effectiveness of biotreatment and bioremediation. A healthy biodiversity provides numerous natural services such as protection of water resources, water and pollution absorption and breakdown. Also, it assist in the protection of water resources and maintenance of the ecosystem. Additionally, Fineless Porpoise are significant in nutrient recycling and storage. Also, aquatic biodiversity has some social benefits such as tourism and recreational. Threats: Some of the threats to biodiversity relating to Fineless Porpoise include water pollution, habitat loss and nature degradation, and climate change. Importantly, growth of aquatic life is affected by water pollution. For instance, Fineless Porpoise can absorb toxins by swimming through them and this will significantly reduce their population. Also, thermal pollution from factories have been shown to disrupt the natural balance of species distribution and this poses threat to biodiversity since few organisms will adapt to the hot water. Similarly, nutrient pollution from agricultural chemical runoff contributes to algal blooms and eutrophication which depletes oxygen in the marine environment and this adversely affects marine population. Citation(s): 2. Species survival plan: The reintroduction plan will begin when the captive population has sufficient genetic diversity and numbers to be secure. Also, reintroduction candidates will be trained in crucial behavioral skills such as food-finding, food recognition, locomotion, shelter-seeking, and migratory traditions. Also, the candidate species will be exposed to environmental conditions to foster essential physiological adaptations such as thermo regulation. More so, the candidate species will be held in enclosure ate the site of release for acclimatization to environmental conditions, landmarks familiarization, and establishment of reproductive and social bonds. Part 2: Species Interactions 3. Species interaction model (paste it below): graph Include at least 6 species in addition to the candidate species Part a: 3 examples Part b: 3 examples Part c: for part a & b. use at least 3 different types of interaction Part d: label interaction 4. Citation(s): 5. Prediction: 5 sentences Assessment 3 Worksheet Carbon & Climate Change 6. Carbon atom pathway model (paste it below): graph, description: 3-5 sentences 7. Impact prediction: 3-5 sentences 8. Climate change impact: a. How the climate will change: 3-5 sentences – citations needed b. Selection process: 2-3 sentences per model c. How the species will be impacted: 3-5 sentences d. Citation(s): 9. Greenhouse gas model (paste it below): graph + explanation (5 sentences) Population Growth 10. Population/species growth curve: graph 11. Carrying capacity change: 3-5 sentences 12. Collapse explanation: 5 sentences 13. Citation Assessment 3 Instructions Instructions 1. Download the “Assessment 3 Worksheet.” Begin working on the worksheet after reading through this document. 2. There are a few visual models that students will create for this assessment. Feel free to either hand-draw them neatly and take a photograph or create them using a program, such as Microsoft PowerPoint® and then save the slide as an image. Paste the images into the worksheet. 3. Citations must follow the guidelines in the coursepack: “Literature Citation Requirements.” 4. If your species is not yet extinct, approach the questions below as if it is already extinct. 5. Feel free to use your notes while working on this assessment. 6. Point values are provided in the rubric. 7. This assessment is submitted to Turnitin and checked for plagiarism, including copying websites or your peers. a. Turnitin produces a similarity score and we use that score to indicate which ones to check further for plagiarism b. There is not a set similarity percentage that indicates plagiarism. The similarity will depend on the length of the answers and if the questions are restated in those answers. 8. Save the document as a Microsoft Word® document. Part 1: Conservation Did you read the instructions above? 1. Reflect on the benefits and threats to biodiversity. Predict which of these would relate to your candidate species if it was reintroduced to an ecosystem. Incorporate multiple examples. Include at least one citation (for your species or a closely related species) that supports your prediction. Do not forget to include in-text citations in your answer. 2. The candidate species will initially be created in a laboratory setting and then likely will be in a captive breeding program before it is released into a natural ecosystem. Create a species survival plan for your candidate that will prepare it for re-introduction and maintain the species in a natural environment after it is reintroduced. In your description, include why it is a plausible plan for your species. Answer in 3-5 sentences. Part 2: Species Interactions 3. Create a species interaction model for the community that may be used for your candidate species’ reintroduction. Include at least 6 species, in addition to your candidate species. Follow these instructions: a. Create at least three examples of interactions that include your candidate species and one other species. b. Then create three additional examples of interactions that do not include your candidate species. c. Across the six total interactions, use at least three different types of interactions. d. Label each interaction (or create a key) with the type of interaction: competition, mutualism, commensalism, or consumption (predation and parasitism are considered as different types of interactions if labeled as such). e. Include a brief description for each interaction (incomplete sentences are acceptable). Exception: there is no need to include a further description for predator/prey relationships. Assessment 3 Instructions f. Label the ends of each interaction line with +/-/N (positive, negative, or neutral) to describe how each species is impacted by the interaction. 4. Include at least one citation that supports your model. This citation can be for the ecological community and not your specific species. 5. Using the model, predict how the reintroduction of your species will impact the overall community (e.g., will some species be positively impacted by having another prey item while others will be negatively impacted by predation or competition?). Provide specific examples, based on the model. Carbon & Climate Change 6. Your candidate species contains carbon. Draw a pathway through the carbon cycle that an atom of carbon might take from your species to another species in its potential ecosystem. Follow these instructions. a. Include the processes, all four spheres, and things (such as organisms) in your diagram. i. Name each sphere. ii. Add the “things” within parentheses. iii. Add arrows to indicate processes and label each arrow with the process iv. Number the order of the processes b. Feel free to include a description with your model. c. Your model must make biological sense for the ecosystem. d. Note that this is not just a replicate of the carbon model we made in class; it is a specific pathway and will not include every process from the original model. 7. Predict to what extent re-introducing your species will impact the size of each carbon reservoir/sphere and the equilibrium (or non-equilibrium) of the cycle. Explain your reasoning. 8. Let’s say that your species is going to be re-introduced tomorrow. Predict how climate change will impact your species in the next 50-100 years. a. What will the climate be like in the next 50-100 years in your species’ region and biome compared to what it is like right now? i. Note that climate is more than just temperature. ii. Provide citation(s) to climate models that you used to answer this question. b. Explain why you selected these climate models, such as who created the model and how you accessed the model. c. How will your species be impacted by these changes in climate? i. Include at least one citation (specific to your species or the particular habitat) for this question that supports your prediction. Do not forget to include in-text citations in your answers. 9. Create a model that explains how variations in greenhouse gas concentration result in changes in climate and how your species survival plan will impact greenhouse gas concentration. The model should address the following questions: a. How does greenhouse gas concentration influence climate? b. Which type(s) of photons (light and/or infrared/heat photons) play a role in this cause and effect relationship? c. How does an increase in carbon dioxide cause an increase in temperature? d. How will the survival plan (from question #2) influence greenhouse gas concentration? (e.g., are there things necessary in the plan that will require fossil fuels?) Assessment 3 Instructions Population Growth 10. Consider how the number of individuals changed over time before extinction. Was the number stable until a sudden event caused it to crash? Was it a gradual reduction in size? Was it similar across all populations- or at least our knowledge of it was generalized to all populations? a. Create a population (or species) growth curve for your candidate species- create more than one if there was more than one way that the populations changed over time (e.g., maybe some crashed suddenly while others gradually declined or maybe some have crashed and a few populations still remain). b. The curve does not need exact sizes or years- we often do not have that data anyway- just provide general information- thousands, hundreds, tens…1700’s, 1800’s, recently…? Make sure to label the X- and Y-axes. c. If your species is not yet extinct, it is okay to indicate that in the growth curve. d. Make sure to note if the number of individuals refers to specific populations or the species overall. 11. Describe how the numerical value of the carrying capacity changed over time and why it changed. 12. What caused the collapse of the species? Name at least a couple issues (do not just state “humans”) and label these as density-independent or dependent. Explain how you concluded which one it is (some factors may not be obviously one or the other, but the explanation should indicate an understanding of the concepts). 13. Include at least one reference, including in-text citations. Assessment 3 Instructions Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (75%) Q1: Biodiversit y 3 points Multiple, specific benefits and threats are described. 2.25 points A couple specific benefits and/or threats are described. Q2: Survival plan 5 points The plan is creative and plausible for the given species. Q3 & Q4: Species interaction model 10 points At least 6 biologically plausible, labeled interactions and at least three different types of interactions are labeled in the model. Interactions include brief explanations, when needed. +//N impacts are included. A citation is included. Q5: Community Prediction 4 points Prediction is specific to the species and is supported by the model. It incorporates multiple species. 3.75 points The plan is plausible for the given species but is briefly described (one to two sentences). 7.5 points At least 6 biologically plausible, labeled interactions and at least three different types of interactions are included. Some interaction types are possible but descriptions are vague or not included. Or, a few of the +/-/N labels are inconsistent with the type of interaction. Or, the “exemplary” level is met except for the citation. 3 points Prediction is specific to the species and is supported by the model. It incorporates a couple species or Needs Improvement (55%) 1.75 points Multiple benefits and threats are described, but they are general for biodiversity and not related to the candidate species. 2.75 points The plan is generic and not designed for the candidate species. Not Evident (0%) 5.5 points Less than 6 labeled interactions and/or less than three different types of interactions are included. Or, +//neutral impacts are not included. Or, the “proficient” level is met except for the citation. 0 points Diagram does not contain any interaction labels. Or, there are no descriptions nor +/-/N impacts. 2.25 points Prediction incorporates multiple species but has some inconsistencies with the model. 0 points Prediction is general (e.g., that more predators will have food but not which specific species). 0 points A couple generic benefits or threats may be listed. 0 points No plan is provided or just repeats what was state in the question. Assessment 3 Instructions Can include direct and indirect impacts. Q6: Carbon Atom 5 points Pathway begins and ends at biosphere, is biologically plausible, and contains labeled processes, spheres, and carbon-containing things. Q7: Reservoir Prediction 3 points Prediction accurately considers the relative sizes of the reservoirs and relates to the carbon cycle processes. Q8: Climate Change 6 points Explanation predicts 1) how climate will change in the specific ecosystem and 2) how that will impact the species. The 3) selection process for the models is described and the 4) models are cited. 5 points The model accurately describes how greenhouse gas Q9: Greenhous e Gases just one species type (e.g., just the predators of the candidate). 3.75 points Pathway begins and ends at biosphere, is accurate, and contains labeled processes and spheres. But it does not include potential carboncontaining things or is not biologically plausible. 2.25 points Prediction accurately describes the relative sizes of the reservoirs but does not accurately use that information in the explanation. Answer relates to the carbon cycle processes. 4.5 points Explanation is missing one of the criteria from the “exemplary” level. 3.75 points The model primarily addresses all components in 2.75 points Pathway contains some inaccuracies or missing information. 0 points Most of the pathway is incorrect and/or does not include names of the processes. Or, the in-class carbon cycle model is simply duplicated to answer this question 1.75 points Prediction is correct but generic in relation to the reservoirs and the carbon cycle. 0 points Prediction contradicts points made in the explanation. 3.25 points Explanation is largely vague (e.g., how climate is supposed to change globally). Or, it is missing two or more criteria from the “exemplary” level. 0 points The entire explanation is vague and not related to the particular species or to particular climate models. 2.75 points All questions are answered correctly in essay 0 points Model or explanation does not accurately address the Assessment 3 Instructions Q10 & 11: Growth Curve & K Q12 & 13: Collapse Critical Elements concentration influences climate, which photons play a role in this relationship, how carbon dioxide affects temperature, and how the survival plan influences greenhouse gas concentration. 4 points Growth curve and carrying capacity explanation align. A prediction for why the changes happened is included. Graph axes are appropriately labeled. 5 points Causes are realistic and density factor explanations are accurate. A citation is included. the "exemplary" level but there are some gaps or vague representations. format rather than a model. components in the "exemplary" level. 3 points Growth curve and carrying capacity explanation align. A prediction for why the changes happened is included. Graph axes are not appropriately labeled. 3.75 points Causes are realistic and density factor explanations are accurate. No citation is included. 2.25 points One of the following is missing or does not align with the rest: the growth curve, carrying capacity, or carrying capacity explanation. 0 points A generic growth curve is provided with possibly a generic explanation. Is not specific to the species. 0 points Explanation is vague (e.g., “humans are the cause.”) Exemplary 50-45 points Proficient 44-35 points 2.75 points One possible cause is explained. The density factor explanation is accurate. Or, two realistic causes are explained but the density factor explanation is inaccurate. Needs Improvement 34-20 points Not Evident 19-0 points
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