Reference no: EM133372594

Part 1: The first thing scientists record when out in the field is general data. Introduce your homework with information about the location where you are completing your research. Include the date, location, time of day, temperature, weather conditions, and a brief description of the area you are researching.

Part 2: Sit down on the soil, and take a close look. Describe at least five species. Do you see small insects? Do you notice different types of grasses and small flowers? What do you see? Record what you find, and remember to be as descriptive as possible. Identify as best you can what it is you are looking at. Is it a plant (grass, tree, flower), reptile, amphibian, insect, arachnid (spider), mammal, or bird? Do you know what species it is? Describe the organism. How tall is it? What distinguishing features does it have? Does it have a scent? Does it have a color? How many of them did you find?

Part 3: Describe a food web in your area, and explain where the species you listed fall in the food web. For instance, what feeds on them or what do they feed on? Think about what would live in this habitat, and look for signs of these animals (e.g., tracks, burrows, nests). Explain how the food web shapes species' diversity in your area. Explain how keystone species play a vital role in the environment that shapes habitats and impacts biodiversity.

Part 4: What do you think is the greatest threat to biodiversity in the area you observed? For instance, describe loss of habitat from development or population growth. How could biodiversity be restored or increased in the area? Describe how ecology and biodiversity benefit human life and how human life negatively impacts the environment.