PROJECT 4.4.3 ECOSYSTEM EXPLORATIONS (BIOMES)
Introduction

The diversity of plants and animals in the United States is extensive. There are many variations in ecosystems as you travel across the United States. In this WebQuest, you will explore how living organisms and the natural environment work together in one ecosystem. Your teacher will assign you and your group one of the following ecosystems. You and your group should choose to narrow the ecosystem into a more specific category.
  • Wetlands
  • Coniferous forest
  • Temperate deciduous forest
  • Desert
  • Grassland/ prairie
  • Temperate rainforest
  • Mountains
  • Aquatic - Freshwater
  • ​Aquatic - Saltwater
  • Tundra
Task
You will work with your group to investigate the ecosystem assigned by your teacher. Your group will research the characteristics of the assigned ecosystem from Part One and develop a three-dimensional model of the ecosystem with an informational display explaining each component and how the plants and animals rely on each other. Keep a record of the references that you use during your research. 

**We only want one completed works cited page per group** 

Your group must use a minimum of three sources. At least one source must be an eBook or a print book.

Process
Within your group, review the criteria you need to complete. Develop group goals and assign individual tasks in order to complete the project in a timely fashion.

Part One – Research
Use the Internet and Agriscience Library to research the following information about your ecosystem: 
  1. Major biome in which the ecosystem fits
  2. Characteristics used to identify the ecosystem (Climate, Land Features, etc.)
  3. Location(s) of ecosystem in the United States
  4. Flora
  5. Fauna
  6. Natural resources
  7. Interactions of plants and animals (food web)
  8. Human influence and interactions
Resources
​
  • Use the following resources to assist you in your research.
  • A minimum of 3 sources must be used.
  • One source must be an eBook or a print book.
  • You can of course always use more.
​
eBooks
1. Go to Destiny
  • ​Login to Destiny on the top right
  • Your Destiny login is just your school username and password (no @nburlington.com)
2. Type in: Biomes

3. You will see many results. To just see eBooks, either filter or sort by format. Note: you will need to check eBook and Follett eBook separately. Both could be helpful.

4. Once you find an eBook you want to read online, click "Open" to read it.

5. Each book will be setup a bit differently. Often, it makes sense to use sometimes it makes sense to use the table of contents/search features. 

​6. Some of the eBooks are cited for you and some are not. 
  • The blue "e" eBooks are cited for you (you just need to get it in Noodletools). The green "e" eBooks are not cited for you
​​Need help accessing, navigating, and citing eBooks? 
>>Check out this eBooks Info Page<<
​Websites
  • Cite all website used in Noodletools by choosing +Create New Citation > Website > Web Page.  Ask your group or a teacher for help if needed. 
  • You may use other websites besides the ones listed below. Check to ensure they are authoritative and credible. Unsure? Ask. Still unsure? Use a different source!​
​Arctic Tundra (parts of Alaska and Washington State)
  • Aleutian Islands ​
  1. ​Aleutian Islands, Archipelago Pacific Ocean
  2. Alaska Maritime
  3. ​​Wildlife of the Arctic
  4. ​The Arctic Geology
  5. ​Life and Times of Tundra Plants
  6. Aleutian Islands Wilderness​​ ​
  • Denali National Park
  1. Denali - More Than a Mountain
  2. Life and Times of Tundra Plants
  3. ​Denali Zero-Landfill Project
  4. An Ecological Overview of Denali National Park and Preserve
  5. Denali’s Plant Species and their Habitats​
  6. Tracking Human Waste on Denali​
Desert
  • The Great Basin Desert
  1. The Desert Biome (scroll to Semiarid Desert)
  2. ​Great Basin Desert
  3. Deserts of the World (scroll to Deserts of North America)
  4. ​Plants
  5. ​Animals​

​Wetlands
  • Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
  1. ​Great Swamp
  2. The Great Swamp
  3. Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness
​Mountains
  • Rocky Mountains (alpine tundra)
  1. Alpine Tundra: Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado​
  2. ​Rocky Mountains
  3. ​The Ecosystem in Rocky Mountain National Park
  4. ​Montane Ecosystem: Rocky Mountain National Park Colorado
  • ​​​Sierra Nevada Mountains
  1. ​​Sierra Nevada (general info)
  2. ​Sierra Nevada​ Mountains United States
  3. 20 Interesting Facts
  4. ​Sierra Nevada Geotourism
  5. ​Sierra Nevada Mountain Facts
  6. ​Sierra Nevada Wildlife (fauna)


​Coniferous Forest​
  • Redwood National Forest
  1. ​Primary Consumers in the Coniferous Forest 
  2. Redwood Nature & Science
  3. Redwood National Forest​
  4. What Kind of Biome Is Redwood National Park In?
  5. Northern California coastal forests​​​
​
​Aquatic - Freshwater
  • The Great Lakes
  1. ​Great Lakes Ecoregion
  2. ​The Great Lakes
  3. ​Coupled Great Lakes-Tributary Ecosystems
  4. Great Lakes Coast Ecosystems
  5. Great Lakes Ecosystem
​Print Books
  • Our media center has many print titles that can help with your project
  • Remember to use the book's ISBN to help you cite in Noodletools
  1. Go to Destiny
  2. Search for your topic (you may need to be more general - such as "biomes" or "ecosystems")
  3. Locate the book you want on the shelf using its call number and see if it's helpful
​Exporting Your Citations From Noodletools
  1. Ensure you have cited ALL sources you plan on citing and that they are cited properly.
  2. Choose Print/Export and then Print/Export to Google Docs
  3. Your work cited document should open automatically (named "Sources for..."). If it does not open, check to see if your popups are being blocked (there would be a red X on the right side of your URL bar). Allow popups if needed and try exporting again. This time it should work.DO NOT adjust anything. The formatting is correct.
  4. Turn this works cited in according to what your teacher told you (print, attach in Google Classroom, etc.)
  5. ​If you are working in a group, only one works cited page should be turned in.​