Thatʼs Life Ecosystem Project"
Abiotic Factor Rough Draft
Name: ______________ Hr: _____
Abiotic factors (non-living factors in ecosystem, e.g. temperature, water, soil levels,
natural disasters, sunlight, etc.) affect an ecosystem and the living things (biotic) things
inside it. This rough draft will help you to prepare for it on your project.
Example: What happened if a storm affected your ecosystem and brought a flood of water? What
would happen to the creatures living there? A desert would be more affected than an ocean, and each
living organism could either benefit from or be hurt by it.
List and describe what abiotic factors COULD affect your ecosystem. (could be actual or student made)
Abiotic Factor(s)! !
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How does it affect your living organisms? Food Web?
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Resources for help:
http://sciencebitz.com/?page_id=23
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/77769.aspx
Thatʼs Life Ecosystem Project"
Abiotic Factor Rough Draft
Name: ______________ Hr: _____
Plovers find Lakeshore great place to nest
November 7, 2011 - 12:00am
The largest flock of piping plover, an endangered shorebird, in the Great Lakes region summers at the
Lakeshore.
However, plover numbers in the Lakeshore slipped in 2011.
According to Lakeshore biologist Sue Jennings, 18 pairs of plovers established nests in Sleeping Bear
Dunes National Lakeshore. Fifteen nests were found on the mainland and three were on North Manitou
Island.
“The recovery of the Great Lakes population is dependent upon survival and recruitment of the nesting
pairs located within the Lakeshore,” Jennings said. “Overall, the Great Lakes population is making a slow
recovery. However, the population remains fragile and could easily be lost to a single event, such as
significant storm, predation, nest disturbance and/or habitat loss.”
Three nests were washed out at the Lakeshore this season, the highest number of losses since 2004.
“Although weather played a role in the low numbers this season, another factor that must be considered
is predation,” Jennings continued. “Avian predators were likely a major factor on both North Manitou and
the mainland.”
Predation of adult and juvenile plovers is a concern, due to the concentrated nesting areas within the
Lakeshore.
“Adult female plover numbers were low from the onset of the season at Dimmickʼs Point, which led to the
lowest number of nests since 2001,” said Jennings. “A high number of chicks were lost at Platte Point
between hatching and fledging, which led to the lowest number of fledgling chicks/pairs on the mainland
since 1995.”
Piping plover breeding pairs and fledgling rates at the Lakeshore were lower than 2010 numbers, when
23 pairs of plovers initiated 25 nests. A total number of 72 eggs were laid this year and, of those, 53
hatched and 22 chicks fledged.
“Throughout the season we track the survival of adults and chicks, identify threats to plover habitat and
nesting success, and manage predators,” Jennings said. “We conduct a number of public education
activities to inform the public about the ploversʼ biology and ecology, the importance of protecting their
nesting habitat, and what they can do to help.”