Amazon Food Web - by Neil Battagliese
Additional Links:
Amazon Quiz What Do You Remember?
Evaluation Form Student Web Sites
Mr. Battagliese's Homepage Memorial Middle School
Our South American Epals

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Introduction

The Museo de Sud America has employed you and your partner(s) as their research biologists. The members of the museum are concerned about the Selvas region of South America. This region is tropical rainforest and better known as the Amazon jungle. The rainforest is being destroyed on a daily basis and the museum wants to educate the public about the living things that form the forest. Their hope is to preserve the forest through education. Since the organisms within the forest are dependant upon each other, as well as we are dependant on the forest, the focus of this project is on the forest's delicate food web.
photo courtesy of http://www.junglephotos.com
photo courtesy of http://www.junglephotos.com
Click the image above to better view deforestation in a local Amazon area.
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A. Create an informational web site that contains a minimum of 6 HTML pages. You also have the opportunity to create up to 2 extra pages. The pages to be created are listed below.
1. Home Page: This page should provide facts and details about
    the Amazon.
  2. Food Webs: Explain the concept of food chains and food webs.
  3. Producers: You will explain the role producers have within
    the forest and show examples.
  4. Herbivores: Describe the role of herbivores and show examples.
  5. Carnivores: Describe the role of carnivores and show examples.
  6. Omnivores Describe the role of omnivores and show examples.
  7. Scavengers: Your salary (grade) will be increased if you explain
    a detritus food web and the role of scavengers and
    show examples.
  8. Conservation: Your salary (grade) will be increased if you explain
  conservation efforts already being made to preserve
    the forest. This step is not required.
B. Design an attractive food web poster that will be displayed in the
museum.

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You will work in teams of three to produce the web site. You will use the Internet to gain information for the site. Create a folder for images and a Word document for links. Below is the process you need to follow to complete the task. Before you begin work on the web site though, you need to inform yourself about the Amazon and complete the Amazon Quiz.
  Complete the Amazon Quiz before proceeding to step 1. You can return to the "What Do You Remember?" section of the quiz at a later time but the interactive component should be done prior to your research for the web site.
  You will first need to gain information about food webs and the interrelatedness of organisms within food webs. You must take notes as you research information. The Food Web NotesTemplate provides a guideline for taking notes on food chains and food webs.

For information on food chains and food webs, go to the following sites:
  You will now gain information about South America and the organisms that live in the Amazon Rainforest. You need to continue taking notes as you research. The Home Page Notes Templates provide guidelines for taking notes on South America and The Amazon Rainforest. The Organism Notes Template provides a guideline for taking notes on animals. The Producers Notes Templates provide a guidelines for taking notes on photosynthesis and producers. Print as many pages of each template as you need.

For information on plants:

For information on animals:

  • The Living Edens Manu provides flaura and fauna for Peru's hidden rain forest.
  • Journey to Amazonia - The Big Top provides information and photos of animals that live in the canopy of the forest.
  • Animals Of The Rainforest is a great source for finding information about many animals that live in the rainforests of the world. When using this site though, make sure you research animals that live in the Amazon of South America.
  • The Rainforest Conservation Fund provides Amazon information about conservation, plants, and animals.
  • Gamefish of the Amazon Basin provides information and pictures of Amazon fish.
  • An Amazon Adventure is a site composed largely of student work and provides information about the Amazon.
  • The Animal Diversity site from the University of Michigan can inform you of the diet of an animal from the Amazon. Type in the name of an animal and you will get a profile of that animal.

For information on the Amazon and Conservation Efforts:
  When building the web site you must follow certain criteria. Below is the criteria for each HTML page you must make.
 
  Home Page
This page should be a cover page for your web site. It should contain the following elements:
  • a title
  • a picture
  • general information about South America and the Amazon Rainforest
  • your name and your partner's name

A template is provided to help you build this page.
 
  Food Webs
This page should inform people about the basic principals of a food web. It should contain the following elements:
 
  • a title
  • an explanation of a food chain, which includes an example drawn by you and scanned on to this page
  • an explanation of a food web, which includes an example drawn by you and scanned on to this page
  • an explanation of what can happen to a food chain and a food web if the population of a certain species changes

A template is provided to help you build this page

 
  Producers
This page will focus on three types of plants found in the Amazon. It should contain the following elements:
 
  • a title
  • an explanation of the importance of producers
  • a picture of each plant discussed (total of 3)
  • the name of each plant (common or scientific)
  • a description of each plant (including where it is found within the forest)
  • medicinial uses of each plant (if available)

A template is provided to help you build this page.
 
  Herbivores
This page will focus on three types of herbivores that live in the Amazon. The herbivores could be birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, or mammals. The page should contain the following elements:
 
  • a title
  • an explanation of the importance of herbivores
  • a picture of each herbivore discussed (total of 3)
  • the name of each herbivore (common or scientific)
  • a description of each herbivore (including diet and habitat)
  • a list of each herbivore's predators

A template is provided to help you build this page.
 
  Carnivores
This page will focus on three types of carnivores that live in the Amazon. The carnivores could be plants, birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, or mammals. The page should contain the following elements:
 
  • a title
  • an explanation of the importance of carnivores
  • a picture of each carnivore discussed (total of 3)
  • the name of each carnivore (common or scientific)
  • a description of each carnivore (including diet/prey and habitat)
  • a list of each carnivore's predators (if any)

A template is provided to help you build this page.
 
  Omnivores
This page will focus on three types of omnivores that live in the Amazon. The omnivores could be birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, or mammals. The page should contain the following elements:
 
  • a title
  • an explanation of the importance of omnivores
  • a picture of each omnivore discussed (total of 3)
  • the name of each omnivore (common or scientific)
  • a description of each omnivore (including diet/prey and habitat)
  • a list of each omnivore's predators (if any)

A template is provided to help you build this page.
   
 
  Scavengers
This page will concentrate on two types of scavengers that live in the Amazon. The scavengers could be birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, or mammals. The page should contain the following elements:
 
  • a title
  • an explanation of the importance of scavengers and the detritus food chain
  • a picture of each scavenger discussed (total of 2)
  • the name of each scavenger (common or scientific)
  • a description of each scavenger (including habitat) and the types of remains each consumes

A template is provided to help you build this page.
 
  Conservation - Extra Credit
This page will focus on the destruction of the rainforests, current and past efforts to preserve the rainforest and a list of organizations that work to benefit the forest. The page should contain the following elements:
  • a title
  • a picture of rainforest destruction
  • an explanation of the destruction that has taken place
  • an explanation of the past and current efforts made to preserve the forest
  • a list of links to organizations that help preserve the forest
A template is provided to help you build this page.
 
  The food web poster you are to create for the museum will encorporate more organisms than the web site. The purpose of the poster is to show the connectedness between organisms. It is this connectedness that makes the forest vulnerable and the reason for concerns. The poster should contain the following elements:
 
  • constructed on a poster board
  • a title
  • 15 pictures or drawings of Amazon Rainforest organisms (see the grading rubric for specifics)
  • the names of the organisms
  • arrows from the consumed to the consumer
  • quality work

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The grading rubric for this project is listed below. Once your team has completed the project, you must go to the evaluation form, print the form, and self-evaluate your team's ability to meet the requirements. You do have until the final due date to improve any area of the project. Give the completed evaluation form to your teacher when you are ready to be graded.



Web Site (40 points)

Category 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point 0 points
Home
Page 		Page meets 95
to 100% of the
requirements.		 Page meets 80 to 95% of the requirements. Page meets 50 to 79% of the requirements. Page meets less than 50% of the requirements. No page was created.
Food
Webs
Page 		Page meets 95
to 100% of the
requirements.		 Page meets 80 to 95% of the requirements. Page meets 50 to 79% of the requirements. Page meets less than 50% of the requirements. No page was created.
Producers
Page 		Page meets 95
to 100% of the
requirements.		 Page meets 80 to 95% of the requirements. Page meets 50 to 79% of the requirements. Page meets less than 50% of the requirements. No page was created.
Herbivores
Page 		Page meets 95
to 100% of the
requirements.		 Page meets 80 to 95% of the requirements. Page meets 50 to 79% of the requirements. Page meets less than 50% of the requirements. No page was created.
Carnivores
Page 		Page meets 95
to 100% of the
requirements.		 Page meets 80 to 95% of the requirements. Page meets 50 to 79% of the requirements. Page meets less than 50% of the requirements. No page was created.
Omnivores
Page
(extra credit)		 Page meets 95
to 100% of the
requirements.		 Page meets 80 to 95% of the requirements. Page meets 50 to 79% of the requirements. Page meets less than 50% of the requirements. No page was created.
Scavengers
Page 		Page meets 95
to 100% of the
requirements.		 Page meets 80 to 95% of the requirements. Page meets 50 to 79% of the requirements. Page meets less than 50% of the requirements. No page was created.
Conservation
Page
(extra credit)		 Page meets 95
to 100% of the
requirements.		 Page meets 80 to 95% of the requirements. Page meets 50 to 79% of the requirements. Page meets less than 50% of the requirements. No page was created.
Factual content All information presented was accurate. At least 85% of the information presented was accurate. Between 50 and 84% of the information presented was accurate. Less than 50% of the information presented was accurate. No information was presented.
Overall
Design 		Each HTML page modeled its template and was visually appealing. Most HTML pages modeled their templates and/or had very few visual flaws. Half of the HTML pages modeled their templates and/or had many visual flaws. Most of the HTML pages did not model their templates and/or were visually unappealing. None of the HTML pages modeled their templates.
Written Record Each member of the group can support all information presented with notes that cite the information and where the information was found. 85 to 99% of the information presented can be supported with notes that cite the information and where the information was found. 50 to 84% of the information presented can be supported with notes that cite the information and where the information was found. Less than 50% of the information presented can be supported with notes that cite the information and where the information was found. Notes were not submitted.
Quiz Each group member submitted answers to the Amazon Quiz until they achieved a 100%. Each group member submitted answers to the Amazon Quiz and achieved at least an 80%. Each group member submitted answers to the Amazon Quiz but at least one member scored below 80%. At least one group member did not submit answers to the Amazon Quiz. Group members
did not submit answers to the Amazon Quiz.

Food Web Poster (15 points)
5 points Poster includes at least 15 labeled pictures of organisms from the Amazon Jungle.
3 points The 15 organisms displayed contain at least 2 specific producers (grass, trees, shrubs etc.), 8 herbivores and 5 carnivores.
3 points Poster accurately displays arrows from the consumed organisms to the consuming organisms.
1 point Poster contains a title.
3 points Overall quality and visual appeal of poster.
Go to the Amazon Food Web Evaluation Form

Amazon Food Web © Neil Battagliese 2002