1. Name of mammal family here. Photo of representative species (one or more than one) here.

2. Physical characteristics of this family. Photo of a representative Ohio species that illustrates the key characteristics of this family. The photo should be labeled with arrows pointing out distinctive characters. Include the common and scientific names for the species used.

3. Niche/role in the environment. Describe key roles that the species of this family play in Ohio ecosystems. What do they do? What do they eat? When are they active? How do they survive the winter? Who do they compete with? How do they affect their environment? Ideally, you will include photographs of species doing what they do. This section can include several slides if need be.

4. Preferred habitat. What types of Ohio ecosystems do the species in this family prefer? Include a photo of a representative species in its preferred habitat. Many times species also occur in less preferable habitats. If these species are also found in less ideal habitats, you should note that and explain why.

5. Life history characteristics. What is the family’s life-cycle like? Do its species hibernate? Migrate?... How long does it take for the offspring to become independent?

6. Geographic Distribution. Where in Ohio do the species within this family reside? For some families, there will be many species, residing in different parts of Ohio. If this is the case for your family, choose at least 4 representative species and note which parts of Ohio they are found. This page should include a large Ohio map with some symbol(s) to note where the family occurs.

7. Interesting notes. You may find interesting things about this family that were not noted on other slides. This is where you can communicate those extra facts. Examples might include: Are any of the species Threatened or Endangered? Why? Are any of the species important to humans? How so? Do any of the species have peculiar adaptations or life history characteristics? Explain.