(a) |
Discuss the importance of biodiversity and maintaining biodiversity. (S, K) |
(b) |
Understand that scientists describe biomes as resulting from the interaction of biotic and abiotic factors such as temperature, precipitation, insolation, latitude, altitude and geography. (A, K) |
(c) |
Compare the biodiversity and climatic characteristics of several of Earth's major biomes. (S, K) |
(d) |
Estimate the abundance of organisms in a local ecosystem using random (e.g., quadrat), systematic (e.g., line transect and belt transect) and/or stratified sampling techniques. (S) |
(e) |
Determine the population density, percentage frequency and/or percentage cover of one or more organisms in an ecosystem using primary or secondary population data. (S) |
(f) |
Discuss ethical and cultural perspectives related to studying biotic components of ecosystems, including the potential benefits and consequences of technologies (e.g., radio collar) and techniques (e.g., mark and recapture) used to collect data. (K, STSE, A) |
(g) |
Examine ways in which scientists collaborate with Elders, knowledge keepers and other community members to gather and interpret data related to biotic components of ecosystems. (STSE, A) |
(h) |
Construct and/or interpret graphs of population dynamics of humans and other species to determine population trends within an ecosystem. (S, A) |
(i) |
Investigate various ways in which natural populations attempt to maintain equilibrium, and relate this equilibrium to the resource limits of an ecosystem with reference to concepts such as carrying capacity, natality, mortality, immigration and emigration. (S, K) |
(j) |
Examine the relationship between the biodiversity of an ecosystem, its primary productivity and ecological resilience. (K, S) |
(k) |
Examine how factors such as invasive species, habitat loss and climate change affect biodiversity within an ecosystem, and can result in species becoming at-risk (i.e., vulnerable, threatened and extirpated). (K, STSE) |
(l) |
Analyze how the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of human-made substances can affect the viability and biodiversity of organisms and populations in an ecosystem. (K, STSE) |
Below Zero activity guides are free to teachers attending a Below Zero workshop, often offered in conjunction with Project WILD workshops. These workshops provide an opportunity to experience the activities and to plan how to use them in the classroom. A modest registration fee covers workshop materials and expenses.
Teachers may wish to use other programs from the Biomes of the World in Action series. Program titles include Coniferous Forest, Deciduous Forests, Deserts, Freshwater Ecosystems, Marine Ecosystems, Rainforest Biomes and Tundra.
Project WILD activity guides are free to teachers who attend a Project WILD workshop. These workshops provide an opportunity to experience the activities and to actively plan how to use them in the classroom. A modest registration fee will cover workshop materials and expenses.