21-22 ER 1.2

We Got a New Job!

You will take on the role of ecologists working for Natural Resources Rescue, an organization that works to protect and save fragile ecosystems around the world.

This is a project report  from Natural Resources Rescue  (NRR) about the problem in a part of the Costa Rican rainforest ecosystem. The project area was originally a healthy rainforest. Then, as you can see in the photo on the left, cattle ranchers burned down the rainforest so they could use the land as grazing (eating) area for their cows.

0

Look at the picture of the Costa Rican Rainforest, what do you notice about the project area today?
Sentence starter: I notice ______________________

Several years ago, the cattle ranchers left and took the cows with them. The ranchers were asked to plant trees so the area would become a rain forest again. As you can see in the photo on the right, some trees—called cecropia trees (pronounced see-CRO-pee-ah)—and other rainforest plants are slowly starting to grow again, and rain forest animals have begun to come back.

NRR worked with volunteers to replant the project area. They brought in young cecropia trees and other important rainforest plants and planted them.

In many parts of the world, people have done reforestation projects like this, and the forest has grown back and thrived.

Use the chart below to answer the questions

1

Which area has more jaguars?

1

Which area has more cecropia trees?

1

Which area has more sloths?

Use the chart below to answer the questions

1

Which area has heavier jaguars and sloths?

Observations of Ecosystems
DIRECTIONS:  We cannot visit different ecosystems, but we can practice doing what ecologists do by observing scientific illustrations of real ecosystems.  Look at the pictures of the ecosystems and write three observations listing things that you see.

0

Write three observations listing things that you see in the pond ecosystem.

0

Write three observations listing things that you see in the desert ecosystem.

0

Write three observations listing things that you see in the rainforest ecosystem.

0

What are two things you notice that are the same in all of the ecosystems?

0

We Got a New Job!

Look at the picture of the Costa Rican Rainforest, what do you notice about the project area today?Sentence starter: I notice ______________________

Which area has more jaguars?

Which area has more cecropia trees?

Which area has more sloths?

Which area has heavier jaguars and sloths?

Observations of Ecosystems

Write three observations listing things that you see in the pond ecosystem.

Write three observations listing things that you see in the desert ecosystem.

Write three observations listing things that you see in the rainforest ecosystem.

What are two things you notice that are the same in all of the ecosystems?

What are two things you notice that are the different in all of the ecosystems?

Look at the picture of the Costa Rican Rainforest, what do you notice about the project area today?
Sentence starter: I notice ______________________