In this step of the course project you will observe your organism and document its ecology using the multimedia format you chose in your Week One Forum. Ecology is the interaction of a living organism with the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors in the environment. You will document how your organism lives, works (gains energy), and generally interacts with the environment. Potential methods of documentation include photography, video, and audio recording. You should attempt to collect as much original media (photos, videos) on your organism as possible and then supplement with resources found on the web. Please remember your research is about observing your organism, not interacting with it! Please use common sense and do not put yourself in a potentially dangerous environment or trespass when making your observations.

Presentation requirements:

• Your presentation will be submitted as a weblink that you have created from building a Screencast-o-matic (SOM) of a slide presentation. Instructions for creating and uploading your presentation for SOM are below.
• Your SOM presentation must contain 12 – 20 slides and be no longer than 15 minutes in length.
• There must be a visual element (photos. videos).
• There must be a narrative component (audio or written narration).
• You will submit this presentation to your classmates to review and discuss as a part of the Week Eight Forum.

ANIMALS

I. Organism Introduction: your presentation must contain:

a. The common and scientific names of your organism

b. Where you observed your organism (e.g. country, state, park, zoo).

c. A discussion on why you selected this organism

d. If possible, a picture of you observing your organism safely in the field.

II. Foraging Ecology: your presentation must address how your animal obtains its food. For example: the types of foods, the amount of food, the temporal pattern of feeding and specific handling or processing of food items by the organism (e.g. the way a squirrel manipulates an acorn).

III. Reproductive Ecology: your presentation must address how your animal reproduces. Include a discussion on the specific reproductive strategies (e.g. release of gametes by a fish or hermaphroditic reproduction in earthworms), mate choice, mating displays, mate competition and mating systems.

IV. Habitat: your presentation must discuss where your organism lives. This does not refer to a city or state; rather it is the natural environment in which your organism lives. Some factors to consider when discussing habitat include abiotic factors like soil or water as well as biotic factors like predators, prey or hosts.

V. Other Behaviors: your presentation must discuss other interesting behaviors of your organism. For example light sensitivity, tactile sensitivity, parental care, group formation, kin helpers, defenses, territoriality and cooperation.