INTRODUCTION:

    You have applied for the position as greenhouse manager for Plant World.  Your job description includes maintaining greenhouse conditions for a variety of plants from various terrestrial biomes and providing at-home care information for buyers of  the plants.  For this position, you will be expected to use your knowledge about plant adaptations for survival.
 

THE TASK:

    As part of your application process, the Plant World executives require you to take a basic botany entrance exam, create a greenhouse maintenance plan for one specific plant, and compile information about the plant for at-home care.  Once you have the job, you will be required to describe modifications your plant would need in order to survive in another biome.
 

THE PROCESS:

1.  First you will need to complete the online botany exam available at Botanist Entrance Exam

• Enter the session name as "Botanist Entrance Exam"
• Enter your name under student name.  Please type your last name and then your first name.
• You need to score above 80 percent to proceed and may take the exam as many times to get the score you desire.  HOWEVER, one point will be deducted from your grade each time you take the exam, so BE SURE TO STUDY!

3.  Show the name of your plant to the Chairperson (your teacher) for approval.  The chairperson is looking for a diverse selection of plants from a variety of biomes to evaluate all applicants.  Be sure to know your plant's biome.  Approval of your plant will be granted on a first come first served basis.

4.  Research your plant.  You will be expected to

• identify the conditions of its environment
• describe how the plant's structure helps it survive in that environment
• describe how the plant's behavior helps it survive in that environment
• focus on your plant's specific adaptations/qualities that enable it to survive in its environment.

LEARNING ADVICE:

Keep these guidelines in mind as you complete your research.

• Remember, examples of adaptations are:

• Environmental factors include: amount of sunlight, amount of water, temperature, humidity, competitors, predators.

• Knowing your plant's entire classification may be helpful for your research.

• Make sure you cite your sources for information or images used for this project.

RESOURCES:

    You may use any of the sites below or additional sources.

PLANT INFORMATION

Ohio State University Plant Dictionary
Plant Importance, Facts and Listings
Rainforest Plants Database
Plant Database
Botany Encyclopedia
Rare and Unusual Plants
Desert Plants
Plant Adaptations
UConn Plant List
CT Botanical Society
Botany Clip Art

BIOME INFORMATION

Biomes and Adaptations
Habitat Map
Biome information
More Biome Information
Biome Information and Resources
 

CONCLUSION:

    The Chairperson will evaluate prospective employees and select a candidate for employment based on a brochure that you will create.  The brochure will accompany the plant home with its new owner.

EXTENSION:

      In addition to your brochure, describe modifications you would make to your plant so that it could successfully survive in two other biomes.  You may select any two other biomes.  Diagram your plant in each new biome.

EVALUATION:
 

CRITERIA	POSSIBLE POINTS	YOUR POINTS
Botanist Entrance Exam	25 points total
Botanist Entrance Exam deduction
Brochure	50 points total
1.  Thoroughly researched	15
2.  Creativity	5
3.  Neatness (typed)	5
4.  Accuracy	15
5.  Resources cited MLA style in brochure	10
Extension	25 points total
1.  Description of modifications	15
2.  Diagram of plant in new biome	10
Total	100

TEACHER NOTES:

    This webquest was designed for a group of students in a college preparatory program.  Before beginning this assignment, students read section 18-3 in their textbook (Miller and Levine.  Biology: The Living Science.  Prentice Hall, 1998.)  The Botanist Entrance Exam can  be found on www.quia.com.