Calling all physiological ecology students…
Over the past several years I have watched what seems like endless hour of kids’ nature shows like Wild Kratts or Octonauts. The one thing these shows have in common is they end each episode with a summary of all the cool and amazing things the organism can do. Check out the the Torpedo Ray Creature Report below. You can thank me for the brain worm later…
Activate Creature Report (a.k.a. your take home final exam question)
Objective: Demonstrate your knowledge of how changes in the environment induce responses within an organism at various levels of biological organization (molecular, biochemical, physiological, morphological and behavioral) and time scales (accommodation, acclimatization and adaptation).
Using your knowledge how biotic and abiotic factors create specific challenges for the organisms and the various examples of biological responses these organisms employ to survive, live and/or thrive under such environmental conditions you will design an organism that is ideally suited for a specific environment/habitat.
Your animal should not be an already existing organism but instead a novel organism that is an ultimate specialists for its particular environment or a “super organism”. You are encouraged to be creative in your combination of adaptive responses but you must stay within the realms of physiological reality.
Assignment Instructions
Step 1: Select ONE of the two habitats described in the chart below.
Habitat Options for Creature Report
Habitat A Habitat B
Location
Aquatic, Marine.
Small home range – no migratory ability
Terrestrial.
Seasonal migration between sea level and high altitude environments (~6000m).
Temperature
Low: -1.8°C
High: +30°C
Low: -10°C
High: +40°C
Oxygen Availability
Fluctuates with temperature
Varies with altitude
Step 2: Compose a detailed & creative creature report by completing the following:
Provide a detailed description of your habitat, providing your interpretation of the time scale of the various environmental challenges. You may create a name for your environment if you wish (e.g. boreal forest, tropical coral reef).
Identify the physical and chemical effects or pressures the environmental conditions of the habitat create for your organism.
Create a novel name for your organism (both common name and latin based species name).
Provide a detailed description of your super organism, providing a description of the mechanisms or biological responses the organism relies upon to overcome each environmental challenge. Keep in mind each habitat has several environmental challenges and from course discussions we know that the energetic investment of responding to the stressor is typically directly related to the duration and magnitude of the stressor (think time scales and levels of biological organization).
Directly link each biological response to the specific environmental condition & explain HOW the biological response or mechanism increases the organism’s fitness (ability of an organism to survive and produce future progeny).
It is not required, but you will receive extra credit (5 pts) for including a visual (drawing, digital image, etc) of your organism with your submission.
Formatting Instructions:
The layout of the article is up to you. It can be written in traditional essay format OR presented in the style of a species profile (see hyperlinks for examples:
USFWS: Gray Wolf Biologue
Clouded Leopard: Smithosonian’s National Zoo
The text must be in a readable font size (10-12 pt font)
“Soft” word limit: 1500 words
The work you submit should be solely your own thoughts and ideas. No collaboration with other individuals is allowed
You may consult any of our course materials and use outside materials if you find them helpful.
Information from course material does not need to be cited. Any information/resources outside of course material should be acknowledged using in text citations and a complete reference list at the end of the report. The format of the citations/references is up to you, just be consistent.
Assignment Due Date
Your report should be submitted electronically to the Folio dropbox no later than 2:30 pm on Thursday, May 5th. This is the official end of our university scheduled final exam period.
Assignment Submission Instructions
Save and name your file
Save your assignment as either a Microsoft Word document (.docx) or a .pdf
Name the file: FirstName LastName_Habitat X. For example, Johanne Lewis_Habitat A.pdf
How to Submit the File
Go to Assessments > Dropbox > Creature Report
Submit the file as instructed
Double check your submission to be sure you uploaded the correct file(s)
Select the dropbox for this module.
Submit your assignment. Double-check your submission to be certain you submitted the correct file.
Assignment Expectations and Grading Criteria
Your submission will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Creature Report Grading Rubric
Criteria Points
Includes a detailed description of the habitat: i) all environmental challenges; ii) time scale of exposure of each challenge; iii) uses appropriate terminology; iv) all potential interactions between stressors is addressed 10
Thoroughly covers all aspects of the physical and chemical constraints that underpin EACH environmental challenge. 20
Provides a unique name for the organism (both common and species name). Name is biologically relevant (relates to organism’s morphology and/or habitat) 5
A detailed summary of the coping mechanisms & adaptations is included: i) includes coping mechanisms at more than 1 time scale and level of biological organization for EACH environmental challenge; ii) explanation is biologically accurate and demonstrates mastery of course material; iii) all potential interactions between coping mechanisms is addressed (i.e. trade-offs). 30
Thoroughly and accurately explains how each biological response increases the organism’s fitness for that particular habitat 20
Creativity: Report contains novel or unique ideas. Creates new knowledge or knowledge crosses boundaries 10
Spelling, grammar & overall presentation 5
Quality/Completion Basis:
Points are awarded on a Quality/Completion Basis:
(A+) Excellent understanding & application, fully complete
(A) Good understanding & application, mostly complete
(B) Fair understanding & application, missing information
(D) Poor Understanding & application, missing a lot of information
(F) Not attempted/completed
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Over the past several years I have appeared first on Skilled Papers.