AP Biology Summer Project

Directions: Choose ONE option from the following list of biology summer
homework experiences. In order to get credit for this assignment, you must follow
the directions and submit the evidence that is required in the first day of school. All
materials must be in uploaded to google classroom before August 7th. We will be
showcasing and discussing this project the first day of school. Make sure your work
is intellectually your own!... although your family and friends can pitch in.1 Dont
forget about your reading too.

6. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ZOO OBSERVATION.

An animals habitat is an environment that provides the food and shelter required for
the animal to make its home. Take a trip to a zoo or animal rescue center. Make sure
you get a receipt, take a picture and upload it. Choose five animals. For each animal,
visit the exhibit and observe the habitat created by the zoo and read or watch a video
about each organism in their natural habitat. Compare and contrast the organisms
zoo habitat and natural habitat. What adaptations help the animals survive in each
different environments? Each habitat description should be at least 150 words.
a. Required Evidence:
i. Document with each of the following pieces.
1. (1) A picture of a receipt showing zoo admission.
2. 5 links to videos or descriptions about the natural habitat for
each organism observed.
3. Paragraph (5 total) comparing and contrasting their natural &
zoo habitats and the adaptations needed to survive in each.

1
You must include a list of specific acknowledgements if you have assistance. What exactly did your
helper(s) do?
Adapted from assignments published in Biology Experiences in the Summer: Keeping the Faucet Flowing for All Students by
Jeffrey J. Rozelle and Ann Haley MacKenzie, The American Biology Teacher, Vol. 73, No. 8 (October 2011), pp. 449-452.
Meerkat Natural Habitat Description
There were many similarities between the meerkats natural habitat and their
zoo habitat. The ground was hard packed dirt and there was no water present. It was
unclear whether the zoo or the meerkats dug the underground tunnels present. It was
most likely the meerkats themselves because they already have the adaptations need
to be able to safely dig underground tunnels. There were very few observable
differences between their natural habitat and zoo habitat.
The first difference observed is the amount of shade provided in the zoo
habitat. In the Kalahari desert there is little to no shade due to the absence of trees. In
the zoo habitat the entire back of the exhibit had shade provided. This could be
considered a bit odd considering meerkats already have adapted to the harsh
conditions of the desert and the sun. Despite their capability of staying in the sun,
every meerkat in the exhibit were either underground or laying in the shade. It is
quite obvious that these specific meerkats have become accustomed to the shade
provided and would prefer the shade to the sun.
The second difference observed is the lack of predators. Specific meerkats have
roles to look out for predators while the others looks for food and relax in the sun.
However, the meerkats are completely alone in this exhibit. They wander freely with
no worries. This can take away many instincts meerkats would originally need in their
natural habitat. If these meerkats were released back into the wild there could be a
greater chance of them not surviving.

Aldabra Tortoise Natural Habitat Description

There were almost no similarities between the aldabra tortoises natural
habitat and zoo habitat. The tortoises are found in scrub, swamps, dunes, and
grasslands. But the exhibit was just a giant dirt clearing. This difference can change
what the aldabra tortoises eat as well as how they find their food. In the bowls holding
their food there was iceberg lettuce. However, in their natural habitat they feed on
mainly grass and tubers.
The second difference observed was the amount of water provided. In the zoo
exhibit there was a pool of water in the center. However, in their natural habitats they
get all the needed water from their foods. The shells of the aldabra tortoises are very
thick and impermeable to water. This allows them to survive for long periods of time
without water or food. As stated before, there was iceberg lettuce provided rather than
grass. There were many bowls of this iceberg lettuce and many were left untouched.
The aldabra tortoises may be eating less food simply because they do not need to
store more nutrients and materials because of the water provided.

Yellow-Cheeked Gibbon Natural Habitat Description

There were little to no similarities between the natural habitat and zoo habitat
of the yellow-cheeked gibbons. The first difference observed was the giant chain link
cage around the gibbons. It is there to keep them contained at all times but the
gibbons found another use for it. They used the chain link cage to swing around as
they played with the others. There were also thick cloth strips hanging from the tops
of the cage and the very few trees in the cage. These were also used to swing around.

Adapted from assignments published in Biology Experiences in the Summer: Keeping the Faucet Flowing for All Students by
Jeffrey J. Rozelle and Ann Haley MacKenzie, The American Biology Teacher, Vol. 73, No. 8 (October 2011), pp. 449-452.
When the gibbons first were placed in the cage they had to adapt to the feel of the
chain link cage and cloths when they were swinging around. Their hands are
naturally elongated and hook shaped but they are meant to help swing from branch to
branch. Their hands must adjust to correctly grip these new materials.
The second difference observed was the lack of trees in the exhibit. There were
very few bare trees and they appeared to artificial. In their natural habitat, gibbons
usually stay in the upper canopy and sleep in the emergent branches. However, the
only places provided for them to sleep were a few small hammocks all hanging in one
corner of the cage. The gibbons once again had to adapt in order to sleep comfortably
with each other.

Giant Otter Natural Habitat Description

The first difference observed was the lack of water provided to swim in. Giant
Otters live in slow-moving rivers, lakes, and streams. In the zoo habitat there was
only a small tub that appeared to be a sort of kiddie pool. There was not much room
for the otters to freely swim in it especially when there were multiple otters inside.
The otters must adapt to this lack of water and become used to only swimming in
extremely small circles rather than being able to relax in the slow-moving bodies of
water.
The second difference observed was the lack of overhanging vegetation. Giant
otters live in slow-moving bodies of water with sloping banks and overhanging
vegetation. They use this vegetation to create camp sites for themselves and their
family. But in the zoo exhibit there was only two trees and neither were low enough
for the Giant Otters to reach. Because of this there was not any campsites for the
otters. The otters must adapt and find a different way to create a place for themselves
and their family. All the otters present in the exhibit seemed to favor staying in the
small pool provided rather than walk around the full zoo habitat.
The third difference observed was the areas provided for the otters to sleep.
Giant Otters usually dig wide holes that are big enough for one giant family pile. They
also prefer to sleep in holes under fallen logs. In the zoo exhibit, there was only one
artificial log provided that only had room for one otter. The other otters appeared to
have no place to sleep because the ground was hard packed and there were no holes
present. The otters must adapt and find a new way to sleep with their families
comfortably.

Masai Giraffe Natural Habitat Description

There appeared to be no similarities between the natural habitat and zoo
habitat of the masai giraffe. The first difference observed is the ground of the zoo
habitat. The ground was hard packed dirt and mainly cement. However, masai giraffes
live in grasslands and woodlands. The giraffes must become used to walking on the
hard cement ground rather than grass and soft soil. Their hooves may hurt at first or
they may even begin to burn because of the sun shining right on the ground.
The second difference observed is the lack of water provided. Full grown adult
giraffes can drink up to ten gallons of water at once. In the zoo exhibit the only water
provided was in small bowls. The giraffes seemed to only stay at these bowls and

Adapted from assignments published in Biology Experiences in the Summer: Keeping the Faucet Flowing for All Students by
Jeffrey J. Rozelle and Ann Haley MacKenzie, The American Biology Teacher, Vol. 73, No. 8 (October 2011), pp. 449-452.
continuously drank the water for quite a while. It is harder for the giraffes to get the
water needed simply because there is less water in a smaller space.
The third difference observed is the lack of vegetation. Giraffes eat leaves from
trees, shrubs, and vines. However, there were absolutely no shrubs or vines in the zoo
habitat and there were only a few trees. Giraffes have extremely long necks and long
tongues that allow them to reach areas of trees others cannot reach but only two of
the provided trees had leaves the griffes could reach and eat. Rather than getting
their own food the giraffes must now depend on the zoo to give them the food and
nutrients they need.

Acknowledgements
My dad was the one who took me to the Los Angeles Zoo so I would like to
thank him for letting me still have fun and making a trip out of it. He did help me take
pictures of the habitats to help me remember when I returned home. I did not receive
any help coming up with the similarities and differences. However, I did ask my dad
and aunt if my reasoning made sense.

Adapted from assignments published in Biology Experiences in the Summer: Keeping the Faucet Flowing for All Students by
Jeffrey J. Rozelle and Ann Haley MacKenzie, The American Biology Teacher, Vol. 73, No. 8 (October 2011), pp. 449-452.