Science Probe II Technology Activities

Chapter 19

Internet

1.Species extinction is happening at an alarming rate throughout the world. There have been many claims about the number of species that become extinct daily or annually. Conduct an Internet search into the species extinction rate for either a plant or animal species. Find out:

a.What types of species are most rapidly reaching extinction?
b.Where is the extinction occurring?
c.What are causing the extinction?
d.Which species have reached extinction during the last 15 years?

Be sure to keep a record of your sources as you do your research. It might also be helpful to correspond through e-mail or talk in a web discussion site with an ecologist or an environmental specialist to get your answers. Prepare a multimedia presentation to inform your classmates of what you have learned. Below is a web site to get you started:

World Conservation Monitoring Centre: List of Threatened Animals http://www.wcmc.org.uk/data/database/rl_anml_combo.html

2. As humans encroach more and more on natural habitat, there is concern about what happens to the plant and animal species of that habitat. Conduct an Internet search to find what various organizations are doing to preserve the plant and natural species habitat. In your search, find answers to the following questions:

a.What is being done to slow the species extinction rate?
b.What laws are protecting the rain forests?
c.How are endangered species protected?

Be sure to keep a record of your sources as you do your research. It might also be helpful to correspond through e-mail or talk in a web discussion site with an ecologist or an environmental specialist to get your answers. Prepare a multimedia presentation to inform your classmates of what you have learned.

Application Software

Activity 19B – Use a spreadsheet program to make your six-column data table as directed in the activity. Record the data in the spreadsheet data table as you perform the activity. Use the mathematical functions of the spreadsheet to do the calculations for finding the population. When finished with the procedure, use the graphing feature of the spreadsheet program to plot a bar graph of Size of population on the vertical axis and Month on the horizontal axis. Print the final spreadsheet data table and graph, and secure them in your SCIENCE PROBE Logbook where you will answer the discussion questions.

Activity 19D – Use a spreadsheet program to make your data table as directed in the activity. Use the mathematical functions of the spreadsheet to do the calculations for finding the total number of bacteria so that you just need to enter the elapsed time and the number of generations. The spreadsheet will do the rest for you. Record the data in the spreadsheet data table as you perform the activity. When finished with the procedure, use the graphing feature of the spreadsheet program to plot a graph of the Total population of bacteria on the vertical axis and the Generation number on the horizontal axis. Print the final spreadsheet data table and graph, and secure them in your SCIENCE PROBE Logbook where you will answer the discussion questions.

Activity 19E – Use a spreadsheet program to make your data table as directed in this activity. Record the data in the spreadsheet data table as shown in Figure 19.1 of the activity. Use the graphing feature of the spreadsheet program to plot the billions of people on the vertical axis and year on the horizontal axis. Print the final spreadsheet data table and graphs, and secure them in your SCIENCE PROBE Logbook where you will answer the discussion questions.