,;.’ I Fourth Graders Create Ecosystems LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff HINKLETOWN (Lancaster Co.) Fourth graders at Hinkle town Mennonite School built their own ecosystem this week. While that might sound like a gigantic undertaking, it is really an easy project that you can do at home. Dr. Zoann Parker, Lancaster extension agent, taught the stu dents how the ecosystem works. She explained that the ecosystem means somewhere where things can live. Oxygen and hydrogen are needed in the system. To make this environment self-sustaining, the 24 students devised a place for guppies to live. This means that water, air, plants, guppies, and snails needed to be included in the ecosystem. First, students filled a clear glass jar about three-fourths full with water. The water needed to sit at room temperature for several days until the chlorine in the water eva porated. The students stuck some aquatic plan.s into their water jars. The plants came from That Fish Place in Lancaster, which sponsors school programs like the one held at Hinkletown. If you are making a cco system at home, you can purchase aquatic plants or find some near a stream and replant them in your jar. You don ’ t need dirt to do this, but simp & drop the plants into the water. Generally the plants develop new root systems, but if the plants die, ids,, simply drop another plant into tne water. Plants automatically add oxy gen that the fish or guppies need to breathe. But the plants also form algae. So the ecosystem needs snails, which like to clean up the dirt (algae). Each student dropped two snails into the water in their jar. Dr. Park er explained that the saying, “slow as a snail” is misleading. “When snails want to move, they can real ly move,” she said. “They are very active and work like little vaccum cleaners to clean up the algae that forms on the side of the jar.” Snails do not need anything or anyone else in life to multiply. If too many snails multiply in your jar, Dr. Parker said, “Smoosh them. They make a good dessert for the guppies.” Each student received two gup pies to drop into the water in their jar. Dr. Parker explained that the easiest way to detect if a guppy is a boy or girl is by the color. Boys have specks of red and/or blue on them. The girl guppies have no color only silver “Fish do not pollute or overpo pulate,” Dr. Parker said. “The mommy will eat the babies if too many are bom.” You can watch the guppies have babies by seeing a little round circle come out of the guppy that pops apart. If a guppy or plant dies, you can replace it with another one. One flake of fish food may be f f I Kyle Marlin and a classmate decide the guppies In the jar are boys because they have red and blue specks on them. given each day to the guppies. If more food is given, it will create ammonia buildup and the pollutant will kill the guppies. Although water, air, plants, gup pies, food, and snails are the only requirement for a healthy water eco system, Dr. Parker said that other items may be added such as sand, a stone, or marble. But be Fourth graders at Hlnkletown Mennonlte School participate In the discussion about building an ecosystem. Dr. Zoann Parker, Lancaster County Extension agent, distributes guppies to stu dents at Hinkletown Mennonlte School. ome t** sure to rinse thoroughly before dropping it into the water; howev er, do not use soap as it harms the system. The students will watch their eco system to understand how ecology works in the world. Ecolo gy is the science of the relation ships between organisms and their environments. ’■ V I-" *"* l>- * i If you would like Dr. Parker to give a demonstration at your school, contact her at (717) 394-6851. The Fish Place in Lan caster provides the aquatic plants, snails, and guppies needed for this project in Lancaster County. If you do not live in Lancaster County, contact your local Penn State Extension office.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers