STATION 1

This game will represent competition between organisms for biotic and abiotic resources in an environment. You are all roadrunners. You live in the desert together and you must compete against each other for food and shelter.

You have been given a die and beads which represent different resources in your environment: White=Fitness NumberBlue = waterGreen = living spaceYellow = foodPink = predators

Rules of the game:1. Each person will roll the dice once to receive his “Fitness Number” Record this number.2. Next, each person will take turns rolling the dice for each resource. Whatever number you get is the number of that resource you will receive. For example, if you roll a 3, you will receive 3 water beads. Roll for each resource one at a time. Record the number of resources you receive. The more resources you get, the easier it is for you to live and to produce offspring.3. Each person will roll once for each resource and receive that number of beads. If you run out of beads, then that resource has been used up and everyone must move onto the next resource. 4. Once each person has received each of their resources, then you must roll a final time to see how many predators are trying to eat you. If your predator number is higher than your fitness number, you have been eaten. Sorry.

Record your data and answer the questions on your lab sheet.

STATION 2

Part 1 Directions: Sort the pictures into abiotic and biotic factors. Record them on your lab sheet.

ABIOTIC BIOTIC

Part 2An ecological niche is a way of life that is unique to a certain organism. A niche is NOT your habitat. A niche describes your role or function within your habitat and it’s ecosystem.

For example, a roadrunner’s habitat is the bush he lives in, the surrounding area where he hunts for food, and the water source he gets water from. That roadrunner’s niche is his role in the habitat. He is a predator which feeds on insects, small reptiles and mammals, seeds, and fruit. He is active during the day. A roadrunner is a host to various blood-sucking parasites and prey to different predators such as coyotes or snakes. That is the roadrunner’s niche.

Part 2 Directions: You will illustrate your ecological niche on your lab sheet.

*Hint: You can draw yourself in your habitat, but you should include things that indicate your role in the habitat.-List out your roles: Big Brother/Sister, Best Friend, Cousin, Babysitter, Instrument Player, Artist, etc…

The more roles, the better. Niches are VERY specific.-Label your interactions: If you’re a predator of cheeseburgers, draw one in your habitat and label it as prey

If you’re prey to an older sibling, draw him in the habitat and label him as predatorIf you’re sick, label yourself as host to a coldIf you’re active during the day, draw in the sun. Active at night? Draw the moon

- Draw in anything that you interact with frequently: family, pets, TV, computer-You should list 3 biotic and 3 abiotic factors in your drawing

STATION 3

These two trees are exactly the same age. One is much taller than the other.

On the back of your lab paper, explain why one is so much bigger than the other. You MUST include several different types of abiotic and biotic factors and use the words competition and limiting factor in your explanation. The explanation needs to be at least 1/2 page in length.

STATION 4

You are a roadrunner. You need food, water, a living space, and to avoid predators to survive. Look at each of the following environments and decide if you could survive in that environment. On page 94 in your notebook, divide the page into 4 parts. Draw each of the following environments. Write a sentence under the picture about why you could or could not live in that environment.

Environment 1: Desert with plenty of insects

Environment 2: Desert with a spring and plenty of insects

Environment 3: Desert with a spring, insects, and bushes

Environment 4: Desert with a spring, insects, and 3 wolves.