Pride Research and Human Impacts Project

Pride Research and Human Impacts Project

It has been said that Humans are at the top of every food web. This does not mean that humans eat everything in the food web, rather, humans IMPACT everything in the food web. Our job is to learn about the impacts humans have on food webs and ecosystems and determine how to solve any negative impacts with conservation in order to preserve biodiversity in the ecosystem.

You will be assigned a pride to research further. You may use the food web that you created earlier in this unit, the internet, and all of the resources you have collected so far in this class.

Some recommended internet resources include:

· GBS Library

· Location of Prides KEY

· LiveScience

· IUCN Red List

Step 1: Use your notebook or Lion Field Notebook and collect information on the following abiotic and biotic factors for the pride that you have been assigned:

· Climate

· Average Annual Rainfall

· Is there a wet and dry season and if so, when do they occur?

· Average Annual Temperature

· What months have the highest/lowest temperature ranges

· How do these high and low temperatures correspond to the wet and dry seasons?

· Sunlight

· How does the length of the sunlight per day change over the year?

· Geography

· Water resources

· What are the specific water sources the lions exploit?

· What are the seasonal changes to these water sources?

· Competition

· What are the animal competitors for surface water resources?

· What are the differences in competitors between wet/dry seasons?

· What are the animal competitors for prey?

· What are the differences in competitors between wet/dry seasons?

· Food Resources

· Available prey in your habitat (minimum 10 species)

· How is prey different in wet/dry seasons?

· Plant Diversity

· Give an estimated number of plants in your area

· Name 3 grass species

· Name 3 tree species

Step 2: Next, you will pick a Human Impact from the list below and evaluate its effects on the ecosystem where your pride is located. There are many different types of Human Impacts that can affect an ecosystem. Drought, agriculture and deforestation, war, fires, increasing human population, and tourism are a few examples.

· Find your food web from Lesson 1.14 Food Chains and Food Webs. Refamiliarize yourself with the producers, consumers, and detritivores in your food web. Use this food web in addition to the notes you took in Step 1.

· What would happen if one of your producers suddenly disappeared?

· What would happen if the top predator doubled in number?

· Look at the Human Impacts cards at the bottom of this lesson. Read through each one and think about how each could impact your food web and/or the area where your pride is located.

· What would happen if the ecosystem was destroyed?

· Pick one of the Human Impacts Cards that you would like to research further. If none of the cards seems to work with the location of your assigned pride, please research other human impacts on the internet.

· Think about the following questions and take notes in your Lion Field Notebook:

· What is your Human Impact?

· How would your Human Impact affect your ecosystem overall?

· How would your Human Impact affect producers? Consumers?

· How would your Human Impact affect top predators?

Step 3: Lastly, you will propose a solution or recommendations to reduce the human impacts on the ecosystem where your pride is located. Write your responses to the following questions in your Lion Field Notebook:

· Research what is already being done to reduce the effects of the human impact you chose.

· Is this solution occurring where your pride is located?

· Is this solution economically feasible?

· Is it working?

· Propose a solution that could help reduce the impacts on your pride and the ecosystem where they live.

Step 4: Create a model that showcases what you have learned (information from your Lion Field Notebook) as well as your proposed solution.

You may create a:

· Presentation - on Google Slides or PowerPoint (shared with the teacher)

Human Impact Cards

Rubric:

	10	8	6	4
Research x2	Student compiles in depth research about the location of their pride and showcases the material in a unique and/or thorough manner.	Student compiles in depth research about the location of their pride and describes the most important pieces of information in a well thought-out manner.	Some research material is missing but the overall ideas are presented.	Research material is minimal or uneven.
Human Impact x2	Student describes human impact. Student provides evidence that they researched the human impact and how it affects their pride and ecosystem.	Student describes human impact. Student explains that they researched the human impact and how it affects either the pride OR the ecosystem.	Student discusses what the human impact is.	Student states the human impact.
Propose a Solution x2	Student proposes a well thought-out solution to reduce the impacts of the human impact on their pride AND ecosystem.	Student proposes a well thought-out solution to reduce the impacts of the human impact on their pride OR ecosystem.	Student proposes a solution to reduce human impacts but is missing some information or is uneven	Student states a solution but it is vague or not explained.
Housekeeping x1	Project is well done and creative. Student took time to compile it. Grammar and spelling are free from errors.	Project is neat and legible. Ideas are organized. Project has few errors.	Project is finished but organization is missing or lacking. Project has a few errors or is missing components.	Project is not finished or was thrown together quickly.

Total = _______/70