Piggielover99's+Tidepool+Ecosystem

 PiggieLover99's Tidepool ecosystem



 **INTRO** ** Hi my name is “PiggieLover99” and I am a sixth grader at the Amigos [|School] in [|Cambridge MA]. My class explored many different ecosystems. I am going to help you learn about the [|T] [|hompson Island]  ** tidepool ecosystem. tidepool ecosystem has many decomposers, producers,

**consumers. It is an ecosystem full of life! **  **ABIOTIC**  We went to the tidepool ecosystem at [|Thompson Island]. We took [|public transportation] to near the Boston Harbor. Once we got to the Harbor, we took a boat to Thompson Island. The tidepool ecosystem had a lot of sand and water. We used a [|World Water] [|Monitoring Day kit] to measure the abiotic. The air was warm, 74º F. We used a thermometer to measure the temperature of the air. We also measured the pH, turbidity and dissolved oxygen. We measured the pH by putting a dissolving tablet into a small test tube full of water. We measured the pH and it was 7.5. Then we measured the dissolved oxygen by putting a different dissolving tablet into another test tube full of water. The dissolved oxygen was 4ppm. We measured the turbidity by putting water from the tidepool into a cup with a design on the bottom. Then we measured how clear we could see the design. The turbidity was 40. We measured the water temperature with a thermometer and the water temperature was 57º F.

 **BIOTIC** ** My topic is the tidepool ecosystem at Thompson Island. One producer we saw was irish moss. Irish moss looks like lettuce but it is a purpley-red. We also saw algae, it was around the size of a fist and very colorful. Another producer we saw was kelp. Kelp is very smooth and it feels like silk. One primary consumer we saw was a sea urchin. The sea urchin is a sphere with spikes on the outside. We also saw a razor clam, which is a clam that is rectangular with an arch. Another primary consumer was a periwinkle. A periwinkle is a snail that attaches to rocks. ** BIOTIC ** //(continued)// **  We also saw many secondary consumers. We saw a soft shelled clam. A soft shelled clam is an oval shape. Another secondary consumer we saw was a barnacle. A barnacle is an animal that sticks to rocks. When a wave comes over them a feathery arm comes out and grabs food. We also found zoo plankton. Zoo plankton is not visible. We also saw a skate which is a tertiary consumer. Skates look a lot like sting rays. Another tertiary consumer we saw was an asian shore crab. An asian shore crab is a greenish yellow crab. We also found a green crab which is slightly larger than an asian shore crab. We saw three decomposers lichen, bacteria, and fungi. Lichen and fungi both grow on rocks and trees, bacteria you can’t see. I made an energy pyramid to represent the ecosystem. The energy pyramid starts with the sun which gives energy to the producers. Then the producers are eaten by the primary consumers, herbivores, who eat only plants. The herbivores are then eaten by secondary consumers, omnivores who eat both plants and animals. Sadly the omnivores are eaten by tertiary consumers who eat only animals. When everything dies they need to be taken away, thats what the decomposers do they decompose the dead plants and animals. I also made a web to explain the ecosystem.

My topic is the tidepool ecosystem located on Thompson Island. We did many awesome things on this field trip. One thing I learned is that male asian shore crabs have a thin light house shape on their underside. The female asian shore crabs have a wider shape. We collected as many different consumers and producers as we could. I also learned that barnacles eat by sending a feathery arm out and grabing bacteria and plankton. This field trip was full of fun and learning!