Wildfires have a variety of impacts on soils, altering physical, chemical, and biological properties. In this activity, the impact of fire is simulated by heating soil in an oven, and the fungal community in the soil is observed based on growth of visible structures in the presence of a microbial food source.
This activity focuses on the function of decomposers in food webs using a
modified game of tag that simulates the role of decomposers in converting dead plants/animals (organic matter) to nutrients for living plants/animals in an ecosystem.
This is a modified game of tag, where students play different functional groups in the ecosystem: decomposers, living plants and animals, and dead plants and animals (organic matter). Different rounds with slightly different roles and rules illustrate key concepts about decomposers.
In this activity, students learn the importance of decomposers in terms of
breaking down dead organic matter and their broader importance in food webs in terms of nutrient recycling and bioturbation.
After discussing decomposers and their importance in the soil food web and
terrestrial ecosystem, students can create a log hotel, which is a terrarium habitat for common backyard decomposer organisms. Once they create their
habitat, they can find decomposers in their yard or local park to add and
observe. Decomposers are easy pets to keep and the log hotel can be kept
indefinitely!
Though we cannot see respiration, we can observe the result. This simple activity can be used to demonstrate the relative amount of microorganism activity in the soil. Water and a food source are added to the soil, and a balloon is placed on the bottle to collect the carbon dioxide released as the organisms decompose the food source.
In healthy soils, sand, silt and clay particles are held together by "soil glues", or glomalin. This activity demonstrates how these soil glues help aggregates hold together, especially when very wet.
This video is accompanied by supporting materials including background essay and discussion questions. The focus is on changes happening to permafrost in the Arctic landscape, with Alaska Native peoples and Western scientists discussing both the causes of thawing and its impact on the ecosystem.
A video that examines what will happen to crops as Earth's temperature rises and soils dry out because of changing climate. An accompanying activity is linked.
Students will understand the complexity of the soil biome, including the interaction of all organisms, from microorganisms, to plants, to insects and vertebrates.
