Description
For this project our group researched a species or ecosystem and had to figure out a way to save it or a step to save it. Our group decided to do the project to the green sea turtles. In order to save these turtles our group made awareness by created a social media account to show what happens to these turtles and give the public an opportunity to donate to help save these turtles. We sold turtle charm bracelets for 2$ and all proceeds would go to the charity Sea Turtle Conservancy. The main issue posed to turtles are the poaching of their shells.
Concepts
Ecological succession: the process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time. For our project we studied the succession of the green sea turtles habitat and its interactions with other animals in that ecosystem.
Abiotic factors: a nonliving condition or thing, as climate or habitat, that influences or affects an ecosystem and the organisms in it. The abiotic factors in our ecosystem are rocks, climate, water, sunlight, etc.
Biotic factors: A factor created by a living thing or any living component within an environment in which the action of the organism affects the life of another organism. Biotic factors in our ecosystem are plants, sea turtles, fish, etc.
trophic level: any class of organisms that occupy the same position in a food chain, as primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers. The ecosystem of the ocean has different trophic levels, at the top being predators and at the bottom being producers.
10% rule: when energy is passed in an ecosystem from one trophic level to the next, only ten percent of the energy will be passed on. When turtles eat seagrass 10% of the energy is brought into the turtle.
Carbon cycle: the series of processes by which carbon compounds are integrated in the environment, chiefly involving the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon is stored in the ocean and affects life in the ocean ecosystem.
nitrogen cycle: the series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are integrated in the environment and in living organisms, including nitrogen fixation and decomposition. The nitrogen cycle has an affect of the sea turtle's ecosystem.
water cycle: the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land, involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in streams and rivers, and return to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration. We used this because it occurs in the ecosystem and has a significant impact on the health of the species.
climate zones: divisions of the Earth's climates into general climate zones according to average temperatures and average rainfall. The three major climate zones on the Earth are the polar, temperate, and tropical zones.
Ecological Succession: Is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. Due to global warming the environment in the ocean is changing, forcing many species to change.
Symbiosis: interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both. The sea turtle has many interactions with other plant and animal life in its ecosystem.
Niche: a comfortable or suitable position in life. Sea grass for the turtle.
Autotroph/heterotroph: Most autotrophes make their "food" through photosynthesis using the energy of the sun. Heterotrophs cannot make their own food, so they must eat or absorb it. Chemosynthesis is used to produce food using the chemical energy stored in inorganic molecules.
Carrying Capacity: the number of people, other living organisms, or crops that a region can support without environmental degradation.
Climate/weather: The difference between Weather and Climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.
independent/dependent-A density dependent factor occurs only when the population reaches a certain level. independent factors are not affected by the density of the population.
photosynthesis: the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct. The plants the sea turtle consumes perform cellular respiration.
cellular respiration: A process where cells take in carbon, water, and oxygen and turning it into water carbon dioxide and usable energy called ATP. Both animals and plant respirate.
population: a community of animals, plants, or humans among whose members interbreeding occurs. The population that the green sea turtle is a part of consists of fish, sea grass, sharks, etc.
biomes: a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat. The ocean is the sea turtle's biome.
Abiotic factors: a nonliving condition or thing, as climate or habitat, that influences or affects an ecosystem and the organisms in it. The abiotic factors in our ecosystem are rocks, climate, water, sunlight, etc.
Biotic factors: A factor created by a living thing or any living component within an environment in which the action of the organism affects the life of another organism. Biotic factors in our ecosystem are plants, sea turtles, fish, etc.
trophic level: any class of organisms that occupy the same position in a food chain, as primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers. The ecosystem of the ocean has different trophic levels, at the top being predators and at the bottom being producers.
10% rule: when energy is passed in an ecosystem from one trophic level to the next, only ten percent of the energy will be passed on. When turtles eat seagrass 10% of the energy is brought into the turtle.
Carbon cycle: the series of processes by which carbon compounds are integrated in the environment, chiefly involving the incorporation of carbon dioxide into living tissue by photosynthesis and its return to the atmosphere through respiration, the decay of dead organisms, and the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon is stored in the ocean and affects life in the ocean ecosystem.
nitrogen cycle: the series of processes by which nitrogen and its compounds are integrated in the environment and in living organisms, including nitrogen fixation and decomposition. The nitrogen cycle has an affect of the sea turtle's ecosystem.
water cycle: the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land, involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in streams and rivers, and return to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration. We used this because it occurs in the ecosystem and has a significant impact on the health of the species.
climate zones: divisions of the Earth's climates into general climate zones according to average temperatures and average rainfall. The three major climate zones on the Earth are the polar, temperate, and tropical zones.
Ecological Succession: Is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. Due to global warming the environment in the ocean is changing, forcing many species to change.
Symbiosis: interaction between two different organisms living in close physical association, typically to the advantage of both. The sea turtle has many interactions with other plant and animal life in its ecosystem.
Niche: a comfortable or suitable position in life. Sea grass for the turtle.
Autotroph/heterotroph: Most autotrophes make their "food" through photosynthesis using the energy of the sun. Heterotrophs cannot make their own food, so they must eat or absorb it. Chemosynthesis is used to produce food using the chemical energy stored in inorganic molecules.
Carrying Capacity: the number of people, other living organisms, or crops that a region can support without environmental degradation.
Climate/weather: The difference between Weather and Climate is a measure of time. Weather is what conditions of the atmosphere are over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.
independent/dependent-A density dependent factor occurs only when the population reaches a certain level. independent factors are not affected by the density of the population.
photosynthesis: the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct. The plants the sea turtle consumes perform cellular respiration.
cellular respiration: A process where cells take in carbon, water, and oxygen and turning it into water carbon dioxide and usable energy called ATP. Both animals and plant respirate.
population: a community of animals, plants, or humans among whose members interbreeding occurs. The population that the green sea turtle is a part of consists of fish, sea grass, sharks, etc.
biomes: a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat. The ocean is the sea turtle's biome.
Reflection
Overall this product went fairly well. Each group mate did their task and completed it through to the end. We did all our work on time and there was not much struggle throughout the entire project. Although the project went swimmingly, our group didn't have much communication. Three people branched off and did their own thing, while the other one did their own thing. This created a hole in our project chemistry and set us back a little bit. If we had collaborated more, this project would have went a lot easier for us. In this project I learned that I'm good with seeing a task out to the end. When I got my role in what to do I worked on that till I was finished and it worked well for me. In my next project I would like to work more on my communication skills. If I improve these skills, the group chemistry is going to be a lot better and we will finish our project quicker and more efficiently. Another thing I would like to work on would be my work ethicacy. I didn't listen to my group that much, a single person more than others and that time could have gone towards thinking of new ideas are finding ways to improve the project. For the next project I would like to cut down on that and always see if there is a room for improvement. A downside in our project would be our access to materials. Our original idea had been to buy a different turtle charm to sell but they went out of stock and we had to wait a while to find and purchase a new type, so we couldn't get started on our model when everyone else was working on theirs. Instead we use this time to work on our presentation and develop a thorough understanding of the Sea turtles' life and ecosystem.