Upcountry Discoveries Project

Objective: Students will explain and illustrate the relationships between organisms and their environment/habitat. SC Biology Standards: 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, and 6.6. For a complete description of each standard and indicator covered, refer to your notes packet. Possible site visit locations: Cleveland Park Falls Park on the Reedy Linky Stone Park Caesars Head State park Jones Gap State Park Fernwood Nature Trail Paris Mountain State Park Lake Conestee Nature Park Furman University Lake ***You may come up with another idea, but clear it with me before you go! Any pond, lake, or forest will work. Task: Create a photo journal, pod cast, documentary movie, or poster board documenting your experience at one of the approved locations. *** If you cant get a camera, let me know EARLY and we will work something out. Proof of visit: You must be in one of the pictures at the location Pictures: You will take pictures of the different plants and animals (or evidence of animalsfootprints, feathers, scat) in the ecosystem. Take pictures illustrating the relationships between organisms (how they rely on each other), their food, and their environment, feeding relationships (whos eating who?), symbiotic relationships, pictures showing human impact on the ecosystem, evidence of change (succession), evidence of the hydrologic cycle, carbon, and nitrogen cycle, limiting factors, abiotic and biotic factors, niches. Tie it all together in a way that represents your whole ecosystem. Under/beside each picture explain the relationships discussed above. Include observation made, impressions, ah ha moments, and how each picture fits into the big picture of life on earth. Reflective Journal: You will complete a journal entry about your experience at the ecosystem. You should include: Connections to specific standards (listed above) or parts of your textbook How have humans impacted this ecosystem? Did you learn anything new, expand on something youve learned in class, or have any interesting surprises/discoveries? *Thats at least three paragraphs!

Upcountry Discoveries Checklist

Project overall: I have at least 10-15 pictures that show different components of the ecosystem I visited I have a broad representation of the topics listed below captured in photos (I have not repeated the same topics). I am in a photo. I have a written description to go with EACH picture that explains how my picture is an example of one of the concepts covered in class. I have written my three reflections. My project is neat (typed if necessary) and creative Relationships between organisms (inter/intraspecific competition, predation, etc) Relationships and food Relationships and environment Symbiotic relationships Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism Human impact Succession / Evidence of Change Habitat / Niche Levels of organization (population, community, etc) Abiotic factors Biotic factors Geochemical Cycles (Water, Nitrogen, Carbon) Limiting factors

This beaver dam at LCNP is an example of primary succession. The area used to be dry land until the beaver dammed the river, causing it to flood. The wetlands are a brand new environment that supports different Photos: populations of plants and animals.

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