|
 Using
a dichotomous key is like following a road map to find your way
around. Where you are going is to the name of the plant or animal
being viewed. The route or road to your destination is in each
question or statement in the key itself.
If you’ve played 20 questions you have experience with a
dichotomous key!
Instructions:
Today you will be exploring
the habitats of Hunting Island State Park, and examining the plants
and animals that live here. The island is made up of four distinct
habitats: beach, dunes, maritime forest and salt marsh. Each of
these habitats will have plants and animals that are only found
in that particular habitat. You will also find that there are
plants and animals that live in more than one habitat.
Your teacher or Park
Ranger will lead you on the Barrier Island Ecology Trail. This
trail is very fragile, so please be make sure to stay on the trail
at all times. In each habitat you will find areas that have been
marked off. These areas are called quadrats. It is these quadrats
that you will be exploring.
Each habitat will have
four quadrats. One or two people from each group will examine
a quadrat. All quadrats in each habitat should be examined by
all groups. Use your dichotomous key to identify the plants and
animals in the quadrat, and fill in your worksheet as you go.
Once you have finished in one habitat, move on to the next until
all habitats have been examined.
After all
of the habitats have been investigated, gather as a group to discuss
what you found.
|
