The Task
My group, Pranav, Chris, Alex, and I, were assigned the task of helping save a specific ecosystem or species and contributing to the cause by reaching out to organizations working on the same ecosystem or species and communicating with them and making a difference. There were slight scheduling conflicts due to one of the members leaving to go to India for most of the project, but overall it went very well and we finished everything we had to do. We chose to help and save the tiger population.
The Videos
A significant portion of our project was the videos. I created two videos. The first one, "Save Tigers Now", is a short 3 minute video that talks about the tiger plight and promotes the "Save Tigers Now" charity. This was to be shown at the Oakland Zoo (more on this later). The second video, "Save Tigers Now: STEM Extension", is a longer video that goes deeper into the science of tigers, their effect on their ecosystem, biodiversity, and how to help save them. This was made in order to help secure points on our final project grade.
The Flyers
My group created two flyers for our project. The first flyer was created to be handed out at the Oakland Zoo (again, more on this later). This flyer has information about tigers and what people can do to help save them. The charity "Save Tigers Now" is included on it.
The second flyer was hung around our school. It was just another way to promote our cause. Our email and Instagram was also on the school flyer. We hung around 15 across campus and on most of the buildings.
The second flyer was hung around our school. It was just another way to promote our cause. Our email and Instagram was also on the school flyer. We hung around 15 across campus and on most of the buildings.
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Oakland Zoo Event
On June 2nd, Pranav and I hosted a tiger fundraiser at the Oakland Zoo. All the funds we received went to the "Save Tigers Now" charity, run by the World Wildlife Fund and Leonardo DiCaprio. Their mission statement is to double the wild tiger population by 2022. Our fundraiser was a success and we managed to raise $125.84. We met a lot of people and worked with a lot of amiable and nice people. The fundraiser was very fun and I'm very happy about how it went!
Other Information
Our Instagram: @save_the_tigers_smhs
This Instagram was created in order to promote our cause more. It was on the school flyer we hung around school and we talked about it in our presentation. Our Email: [email protected] The email was created for the same reason of promoting our cause and helping save the tigers. If people had questions, they could email it to us. |
Tiger Fact Sheet - This fact sheet just has a bunch of different facts about tigers. We used this at the Oakland Zoo Event to help answer different questions.
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Important Concepts
Carrying Capacity - Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an ecosystem can support. Carrying capacity is determined by the limiting factors of the ecosystem. For tigers, their carrying capacity is relatively low because they require a lot of energy to survive. Too many tigers will result in too little food and the starvation of many.
Biotic Factor - A biotic factor is a living component of an ecosystem. The plants and animals of an ecosystem are examples of biotic factors. Tigers are an example of a biotic factor since they're animals.
Abiotic Factor - An abiotic factor is a nonliving component of an ecosystem. Rocks, water, and the sun are examples of abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
Ecological Organization - Organisms are organized in larger and larger groups in ecology. It starts with a single, individual organism.
Individual - An individual is just a single individual organism. This would be a single tiger.
Population - A population is a group of individuals of a certain species. This would be a group of multiple tigers.
Community - A community is a group of populations. This means it's groups of different species. For instance, this would be a group of tigers, trees, deer, and grass.
Ecosystem - An ecosystem is a community with the abiotic factors. This would be the community of organisms and the water, soil, rocks, sun, and other abiotic factors in the area.
Biome - A biome is the geographic area of an ecosystem. Biomes are distinguished from each other based on climate, organisms unique to it, and location. The tigers' biome is the rainforest and it's located in Asia.
Biosphere - The biosphere is all of the Earth's ecosystems. It is all living organisms on Earth together. Tigers, along with humans, every plant, and every other animal, are part of the biosphere. Every organism is connected in some way on the planet.
Symbiosis - Symbiosis is interaction between two different species. Organisms can either be harmed, hurt, or unaffected by symbiosis. Every organism on the biosphere is involved in some kind of symbiotic relationship.
Mututalism - In this kind of symbiotic relationship, both species benefit. An example is when the plover bird eats food off of a crocodile's teeth. The bird benefits because it gets food and the crocodile benefits because their teeth gets cleaned.
Commensalism - In this kind of symbiotic relationship, one species benefits and the other is unaffected. An example is when frogs hide under the leaves of plants. The plants are unaffected, but the frogs benefit because they are protected.
Parasitism - In this kind of symbiotic relationship, one species absorbs nutrients from another species. Thus, the species that absorbs (parasite) benefits and the one whose nutrients are absorbed (host) is harmed. An example is mosquitoes and almost any other organism. Mosquitoes suck the blood from these other organisms and gain their nutrients, thus benefiting. The other organism loses blood and is at risk for disease, thus being harmed.
Competition - In this kind of symbiotic relationship, two species fight for a resource. As a result, both species are harmed. An example is humans and every other organism. Because we and they have to compete for food and land, we're all negatively affected because there's less to go around.
Predation - In this kind of relationship, one species hunts another species for food. Thus, the hunter (predator) benefits and the hunted (prey) is harmed. An example is when tigers hunt deer for food. The tigers benefits because they can eat and the deer are harmed because they die.
Biomass - Biomass is the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume. It is also organic matter used as fuel. For the first definition, in a 5 mi^2 area, there would be more biomass with 300 tigers than 30 tigers.
Limiting Factor - A limiting factor is a factor that determines and limits the populations of a certain organism or group of organisms. Limiting factors are very diverse and different factors and have more or less of an effect on a population.
Density Dependent - Density dependent limiting factors are limiting factors that depend on the population density of an organism. For instance, food and land are both density dependent limiting factors because greater populations of organisms reduce the availability of both land and food.
Density Independent - Density independent limiting factors are limiting factors that don't depend on the population. For example, natural disasters are examples of density independent limiting factors because natural disasters will still kill, no matter if there's 5 or 500 tigers in the area.
Disturbance of Homeostasis - Homeostasis can be disturbed in many ways. Homeostasis is equilibrium in an ecosystem. Examples of homeostasis being disturbed include a species disappearing, a new species being introduced, a natural disaster, and humans involving themselves. An example is when tigers are poached by hunters. This disturbs their population and the homeostasis of the surrounding environment.
Biodiversity - Biodiversity is uniqueness between different species of the biosphere. It is, in essence, diversity of life. Tigers contribute to biodiversity because their characteristics are exclusive to them, making them unique.
Biotic Factor - A biotic factor is a living component of an ecosystem. The plants and animals of an ecosystem are examples of biotic factors. Tigers are an example of a biotic factor since they're animals.
Abiotic Factor - An abiotic factor is a nonliving component of an ecosystem. Rocks, water, and the sun are examples of abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
Ecological Organization - Organisms are organized in larger and larger groups in ecology. It starts with a single, individual organism.
Individual - An individual is just a single individual organism. This would be a single tiger.
Population - A population is a group of individuals of a certain species. This would be a group of multiple tigers.
Community - A community is a group of populations. This means it's groups of different species. For instance, this would be a group of tigers, trees, deer, and grass.
Ecosystem - An ecosystem is a community with the abiotic factors. This would be the community of organisms and the water, soil, rocks, sun, and other abiotic factors in the area.
Biome - A biome is the geographic area of an ecosystem. Biomes are distinguished from each other based on climate, organisms unique to it, and location. The tigers' biome is the rainforest and it's located in Asia.
Biosphere - The biosphere is all of the Earth's ecosystems. It is all living organisms on Earth together. Tigers, along with humans, every plant, and every other animal, are part of the biosphere. Every organism is connected in some way on the planet.
Symbiosis - Symbiosis is interaction between two different species. Organisms can either be harmed, hurt, or unaffected by symbiosis. Every organism on the biosphere is involved in some kind of symbiotic relationship.
Mututalism - In this kind of symbiotic relationship, both species benefit. An example is when the plover bird eats food off of a crocodile's teeth. The bird benefits because it gets food and the crocodile benefits because their teeth gets cleaned.
Commensalism - In this kind of symbiotic relationship, one species benefits and the other is unaffected. An example is when frogs hide under the leaves of plants. The plants are unaffected, but the frogs benefit because they are protected.
Parasitism - In this kind of symbiotic relationship, one species absorbs nutrients from another species. Thus, the species that absorbs (parasite) benefits and the one whose nutrients are absorbed (host) is harmed. An example is mosquitoes and almost any other organism. Mosquitoes suck the blood from these other organisms and gain their nutrients, thus benefiting. The other organism loses blood and is at risk for disease, thus being harmed.
Competition - In this kind of symbiotic relationship, two species fight for a resource. As a result, both species are harmed. An example is humans and every other organism. Because we and they have to compete for food and land, we're all negatively affected because there's less to go around.
Predation - In this kind of relationship, one species hunts another species for food. Thus, the hunter (predator) benefits and the hunted (prey) is harmed. An example is when tigers hunt deer for food. The tigers benefits because they can eat and the deer are harmed because they die.
Biomass - Biomass is the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume. It is also organic matter used as fuel. For the first definition, in a 5 mi^2 area, there would be more biomass with 300 tigers than 30 tigers.
Limiting Factor - A limiting factor is a factor that determines and limits the populations of a certain organism or group of organisms. Limiting factors are very diverse and different factors and have more or less of an effect on a population.
Density Dependent - Density dependent limiting factors are limiting factors that depend on the population density of an organism. For instance, food and land are both density dependent limiting factors because greater populations of organisms reduce the availability of both land and food.
Density Independent - Density independent limiting factors are limiting factors that don't depend on the population. For example, natural disasters are examples of density independent limiting factors because natural disasters will still kill, no matter if there's 5 or 500 tigers in the area.
Disturbance of Homeostasis - Homeostasis can be disturbed in many ways. Homeostasis is equilibrium in an ecosystem. Examples of homeostasis being disturbed include a species disappearing, a new species being introduced, a natural disaster, and humans involving themselves. An example is when tigers are poached by hunters. This disturbs their population and the homeostasis of the surrounding environment.
Biodiversity - Biodiversity is uniqueness between different species of the biosphere. It is, in essence, diversity of life. Tigers contribute to biodiversity because their characteristics are exclusive to them, making them unique.
Photosynthesis - Photosynthesis is the process where plants absorb carbon dioxide and water and use sunlight to create glucose and oxygen as a waste product. It happens in the chloroplasts.
Carbon Cycle - The carbon cycle shows how carbon cycles around in the environment. Carbon is usually produced through decomposition, respiration, and the burning of fossil fuels and taken out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis.
Water Cycle - The water cycle shows how water moves and changes in the biosphere. The general cycle is that water evaporates, condensates into clouds, and precipitates as rain, snow, hail, and other things.
Flow of Energy - The flow energy, shown here, is how energy is transported. What generally happens is that there is a surplus of energy at the producer (bottom) level and much is lost as it travels upwards through consumption.
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Cellular Respiration - Cellular respiration is the process where organisms take in glucose and oxygen to create ATP and heat, water, and carbon dioxide as waste products. It mostly happens in the mitochondria.
Nitrogen Cycle - The nitrogen cycle shows how nitrogen circulates around in the environment. It starts in the atmosphere, is fixed and nitrified by bacteria, and absorbed by plants. When plants die, their nitrogen cycles through the soil again. Denitrifying bacteria released nitrogen back into the atmosphere.
Food Web - A food web shows the different organisms in an ecosystem and who consumes who. In this Asian rainforest food web, the tiger is the top predator.
Tiger Distribution - Tiger distribution has decreased significantly since the 1900s. Their available habitat is reduced due to humans expanding into their habitat and climate change.
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Reflection
Despite scheduling conflicts within the group and the sluggishness of contacting groups of interests, this project went very well for everyone involved. I had multiple distinguishable strengths and weaknesses. Two of my strengths were my leadership and work ethic. When one groupmate left for India, I had to helm the ship and take over. I emailed the zoo and helped coordinate the plans. I also had excellent work ethic. I created the poster, flyers, and videos. There were late nights, but I did my best and worked hard to make sure they were they were as good as I could make them.
I did have weaknesses despite my strengths. Two weaknesses were my laziness in the beginning and procrastination. In the beginning of the project, I didn't really do much and struggled to get stuff done since the other groupmate worked on most of the stuff. That's why it was a rough transition when I took leadership. Another weakness was procrastination. Because of my lack of effort early on, a lot of the final project was left until the last minute. I stayed up late trying to catch up and finish what I could before the presentation.
Although these problems were pertinent, my strengths were still very beneficial to the team. Every member contributed well and overall I am very proud of this project.
I did have weaknesses despite my strengths. Two weaknesses were my laziness in the beginning and procrastination. In the beginning of the project, I didn't really do much and struggled to get stuff done since the other groupmate worked on most of the stuff. That's why it was a rough transition when I took leadership. Another weakness was procrastination. Because of my lack of effort early on, a lot of the final project was left until the last minute. I stayed up late trying to catch up and finish what I could before the presentation.
Although these problems were pertinent, my strengths were still very beneficial to the team. Every member contributed well and overall I am very proud of this project.