Question 1.
Go outside during daylight hours to a natural or semi-natural space (e.g., Burton's Pond, an urban park, your backyard). Sit still for 20 minutes and closely observe the plants and animals around you. Describe what you see. Develop an ecological research hypothesis based on one of your observations. Develop a study design (can be observational or experimental) to test your hypothesis.
Describe your site and observations in 1-2 paragraphs
Describe your hypothesis/research question in 1-2 sentences
Describe how you would set up your study in 1-3 paragraphs, paying attention to criteria of good experimental design
Question 2.
Pick one of the terrestrial biomes described in chapter 2. (If you are unable to access a version of the textbook, you can refer to the (somewhat more general) biome descriptions here). Then use Google Earth (or other online satellite imagery freely available) to visit two different locations of your choice within the biome. These places should contain at least some natural cover (i.e., avoid large metropolitan areas). Note the landscape patterns in these two areas, both when you are zoomed out (so that you are looking at an area approximately 100 km x 100 km in extent) and when you are zoomed in (to an area approximately 10 x 10 km). What are the similarities and differences in the landscape pattern BETWEEN the two locations at each spatial scale? Based on what you can see in the images, and what the textbook
says about the biomes, what do you hypothesize are the major forces that shaped these patterns?
Describe and compare/contrast the landscape patterns at each site and each scale in 2 paragraphs
Discuss what forces might have shaped the patterns in each location, drawing on information from your textbook (and beyond) and referencing specific evidence from the landscapes you've chosen to observe in the satellite images
You may include a screen shot of the images if that is helpful.
Question 3.
You have been asked to make a short (5-10 minute) presentation to a group of grade 4-6 students. The teacher wants you to explain the process of evolution by natural selection. Write a short narrative of what you would tell the class, and give details on one of the specific mechanisms of selection (stabilizing, disruptive or directional) in a way that students this age would understand.
This answer should be at least 4 paragraphs long
You may include examples of illustrations that you create (do not simply take them from the internet) to show the class, or you may describe props or activities that you will use with the class, if that is helpful.