Students investigate how changes in a single limiting factor shape survival, growth, and biodiversity in an ecosystem, using real or simulated species sampling data to build evidence-based explanations. Working with a local university ecology partner, they analyze patterns, evaluate human impacts, and refine a practical response that could reduce harm to organisms and ecosystem stability. Over the week, teams create an ecosystem impact poster with graphs, data, and a clear claim that answers the essential question and prepares them for the Ecosystem Impact Expo.

Students will analyze species sampling data and create graphs to explain how changes in one limiting factor affect population size, survival, growth, and biodiversity in an ecosystem. They will evaluate evidence about ecosystem stability and human impact, then design and refine a realistic solution that reduces harm to the environment and supports biodiversity. In teams, students will work with a local ecology expert to interpret field-style data and build an ecosystem impact poster that presents a clear, evidence-based claim for the Ecosystem Impact Expo. They will strengthen communication, collaboration, and self-direction by giving short data talks, using feedback to revise their work, and reflecting on how their decisions shaped their final product.

Students create field notes, species sampling data tables, and limiting-factor graphs from a short campus or schoolyard ecosystem investigation, with feedback from a local university ecology partner. In teams, they build a model ecosystem or annotated map that shows how one limiting factor changes population size, survival, and growth. The final product is a student-built ecosystem impact poster that includes their sampling data, graphs, evidence-based claim, and a proposed solution to reduce a human impact on biodiversity. For the Ecosystem Impact Expo, each team also prepares a brief data talk to present their findings clearly to families and school staff.

Begin with a fast “ecosystem mystery” where student teams examine two mini model habitats or photo sets that differ in one limiting factor, collect quick species sampling data, and predict which organisms will increase, decrease, or disappear. A local university ecology professor or graduate student then leads a brief hands-on sampling demonstration using quadrats or transects and helps students compare their evidence to the essential question: How do changes in one limiting factor affect the survival and growth of organisms in an ecosystem? Students close by sketching an initial claim-and-evidence idea for an ecosystem impact poster and identifying one human activity they want to investigate for the Ecosystem Impact Expo.

Host an Ecosystem Impact Expo where student teams present 3-minute data talks to families, school staff, and the visiting university ecology partner. Each team displays a student-built poster with species sampling data, limiting-factor graphs, a simple ecosystem model or map, and a clear evidence-based claim answering how one change in a limiting factor affects survival and growth. Visitors rotate through stations, ask questions, and leave feedback on the strength of each team’s solution for reducing human impacts on biodiversity. Close with a brief reflection in which students explain how their evidence, collaboration, and revisions shaped their final conclusions.