The Biome Project

Biomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell).

The importance of biomes cannot be underestimated. Biomes have changed and moved many times during the history of life on Earth. More recently, human activities have drastically altered these communities. Increasing human activity over the past several decades has rapidly altered or destroyed many ecological habitats, thereby changing the biomes.

Biomes are classified in various ways. One can group biomes into five major types: aquatic, deserts, forests, grasslands, and tundra. Biomes may be broken down into smaller groups. The forest biomes can be further divided into tropical and temperate forest, or rain forest coniferous forest, and deciduous forest. The grasslands can be divided into the savannah and temperate grasslands. Tundras can be broken into arctic and alpine tundras.

"So what do we have to do?"

Very Simply, your team is going to describe what you find out about a Biome by – making dioramas, posters, writing a descriptive page, and teaching the class about your Biome.

"How are we going to do all that?"

Here are the steps:

	1. Choose a BIOME:	Name:
	Writer:			Presenter:	Artist 1:			Artist 2:
2. Choose roles:
	¯			¯	¯			¯
	Research your Biome on the Web					What does your Biome look like?	Select Representative plants and animals:
	¯		¯			¯	¯
3. Work on individual responsibilities	Write the BIOME PAGE		Teach the class your Biome in a PRESENTATION			Make Diorama of your Biome	Design a Poster Board showing the common plants and animals in your biome
			4. Learn about other Biomes, take notes to use for interpretation day.
5. Analyze of Biomes			INTERPRETATION of Biomes.

"When are we going to do all this stuff?"

MON	TUES	WED	THURS	FRI
1 Introduce Biome Unit Initial Research Choose Biomes	2 Begin research	3 Begin research	4 Rough drafts of Report Presentation Diorama Drawings	5 Rough drafts of Report Presentation Diorama Drawings
8 Holiday	9 MOMA Field Trip Due: Report & Presen. Notes	10	11 12 Final Written Report Drafts Due Final Presentation Outline Due PRESENTATION of your Biome QUIZ of ALL Biomes
16 Review for Midterm	17 Review for Midterm	18	19 Midterm: Organic Chemistry to Biomes	20

"How will we be graded?"

There are two main parts: 1) Your individual role + = 75

2) Your group’s interpretation = 25 points

Individual Role: (A) Work days = 10 points each day X 3 days = 30 points

You earn these points by being on task and showing the work you got done.

(B) Your Role = 45 points

Find the rubric that matches your role below.

For a:	PRESENTER helps turn research into a 5-minute Presentation on your Biome.	Out of
A	Speaker knows information well-enough to answer questions about the Biome.	5
B	How has man's activities affected the biome. Presentation includes visuals of your Biome’s special organisms and the whole environment. Information on multiple (2-3) organisms’ niches is included	10 5 5
C	Speaker refers to (but does NOT READ) notes during presentation. Presentation is clear and accurate.	10 10

For a:	WRITER writes up research into the group’s FIELD GUIDE PAGE	Out of
A	Includes information on why this Biome is unique, or special in some way	5
B	How has man's activities affected the biome. Information on multiple (2-3) organisms’ niches is included	10 10
C	Writing is in your own words Any new term used is defined The information is organized by basic questions The information answers all basic questions, including information on one organism’s niche, accurately and clearly	5 5 5 5

For a:	ARTIST 1 designs and creates the DIORAMA	Out of
A	The diorama shows craftsmanship, care and/or ingenuity	5
B	The diorama accurately portrays the available niches found in the BIOME. The diorama indicates at least one food web found in the BIOME. The diorama includes clues to the humidity and temperature of the environment.	5 5 10
C	The diorama accurately portrays the environment. The diorama includes a models of plants and animals. The diorama shows unique characteristics of the BIOME. Sketch and name of the organisms is included along with the Biome page.	5 5 5 5

For a:	ARTIST 2 creates a poster depicting the fauna and flora of the BIOME	Out of
A	The poster shows craftsmanship, care and/or ingenuity	5
B	The poster accurately portrays the available niches. The poster includes information about the location of the biomes world-wide The poster includes clues to the humidity and temperature of the environment.	5 5 10
C	The poster accurately portrays the environment. The poster includes common animals found in the BIOME. The poster includes common plants found in the BIOME Sketch and name of the organisms is included along with the Biome page.	5 5 5 5
Group Role:
For a:	PRESENTER helps turn research into a 5-minute PRESENTATION on your Biome.	Out of
A	Uses only notes from others’ presentations, without the "book" of Biome Pages to assist you. Description is detailed.	5
B	Your analysis uses additional details to support your ideas Your group needed the "book" of Biome Pages to help	10
C	You analysis includes an explanation of each unknown Biome’s environment and community Your group needed the other class’ "Book" of Biome Pages to help your analysis.	10

TOTAL = 100

BIOMES

Biome Name	Biome References: (Write the book titles and URLs of good references for Biomes)
Tundra (Arctic & Alpine)
Dessert
Grasslands
Savannah
Tropical Rain Forest
Temperate Rain Forest
Deciduous Forest
Coniferous Forest
Oceans

San Francisco Biome

Found only in California, USA, the San Francisco Biome has one of the most unique environments in the world. The San Francisco Biome has a mean temperature of 20^OC, with very little seasonal change. Even with the cold weather, and small seasonal changes, the temperatures within this biome can change by 5-10^OC within a block. The fauna and flora of the San Francisco Biome is common to any urban area found in California, yet their behavior differs greatly with most urban areas.

San Francisco has an average temperature of 21^OC, that changes by only 2^OC through most of the year. San Francisco has long spring and fall, and winter, and a short summer. Unlike most temperate areas, San Francisco's summer normally begins in mid-September and ends in mid October, lasting only 3 weeks. During the summer, temperatures can reach 27^OC. Fall last from mid-October, and runs until Mid-December, when Winter begins. Winter last from mid-December, and ends in late March. It is during the Winter when San Francisco has its greatest rain, averaging 10cm per year.

Flora and fauna in San Francisco is typical to Northern California. The most common trees are Monterey Pine, Spruce, Monterey Cypress, Oak, and Eucalyptus. Palm trees have been introduced within the last 10years, and they are flourishing well. Yet, unlike other biomes, the Palm trees have not displaced any other native species. As for flowers, you can easily find roses, daisies, dandelions, and tulips. During the beginning of Winter, Poinsettias become widespread, but disappears by mid-January.

San Francisco has one of the most unique biomes in the world. With its low average temperature, and long winters, Mark Twain has been quoted "the coldest winter that I have ever known was a Summer spent in San Francisco. Flora and Fauna species are not unique, but the fact that species normally know to overrun native species do not seem to do this in San Francisco.

Written By: John Lopez

Presented By: Cindy Chung

Date: 2/27/01

¹excerpt from http://www.thurgoomarshallshale.com

²excerpt from http://www.reitmanosaur.1234~opp.com

TITLE

OPENING: includes where the biome is located and general environmental information about the biome

FIRST PARAGRAPH: includes detailed information of the environment

BODY: includes facts about organisms (like niches, food webs), and the biome's nutrient cycle (including the time span for the water cycle).

Ecology

Projects

Ecology Facts

Ecology Sites

The Biome Project

"When are we going to do all this stuff?"

TOTAL = 100

BIOMES

San Francisco Biome

TITLE

CONCLUSION

FOOTNOTES

Name Date Biology, Teacher Period