1. HOW DO ORGANISMS HELP MAINTAIN OUR ECOSYSTEM? LET’S FIND OUT…..

2. WHAT IS MIGRATION? The movement of an animal from one location and climate to another location and climate, linked to resource availability, and seasonal changes.

3. Maryland to Florida

4. Imagine a game where you are the bird migrating from Maryland to Florida.

5. If your migration begins in Maryland and ends in Florida, how many possible birds can survive?

6. In order to survive, you must stop at every wetland along the migration route. You cannot leave the migration path of Maryland to Florida.

7. What if we take away two wetland areas to build condos? Would the same number of birds make a second migration from MD to FL? Why or why not? X X

8. What if we take away two more wetland areas to build condos? Would the same number of birds make a third migration from MD to FL? Why or why not? X X X X

9. In order to survive, you must stop at every estuary along the migration route. You cannot leave the migration path of MD to FL. X X X X

10. You can no longer survive as we have now taken away too many wetland areas to allow the birds to survive the migration path from FL to MD. X X X X X

11. WHAT IS MIGRATION? The movement of an animal from one location and climate to another location and climate, linked to resource availability, and seasonal changes.

12. HOW DOES THIS GAME REPRESENT MIGRATION? We traveled south, following a path similar to that of a migratory bird. We stopped along the path to get our food from the wetlands.

13. Why did some birds die as the wetlands in each state were destroyed?

14. Birds depend on food in the wetlands for survival. The wetlands also provide a shelter for the birds as they travel. As the wetlands were being destroyed, the birds lost places to rest and gather their food were destroyed?

15. WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? How do the wetlands depend on these same birds to help them sustain and grow?

16. ANSWER: Birds carry seeds picked up from wetland areas, and carry them to new areas. This helps continue the growth process of plants to wetlands. These plants also provide food for organisms that live in wetlands.

17. WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? How do earthworms help improve the conditions of ecosystems?

18. ANSWER: Worms help to increase the amount of air and water that gets into the soil. They break down organic matter, like leaves and grass into things that plants can use. When they eat, they leave behind castings that are a valuable fertilizer. All of this helps improve the soil condition to wetlands, making it easier for plants to grow, and animals to build their homes.