Artificial Riparian Ecosystem Unit

This unit combines ecology with engineering and provides an opportunity for students to build and test an indoor riparian aquaponic ecosystem over 2 to 4 months.  Aquaponic systems combine fish and plants. Fish provide plant nutrients, and plants grown hydroponically keep the water clean. This unit can reinforce place based learning objectives by using native fish and native riparian plants in the systems. 

• Objective
  • Student will be able to design an ecosystem, plan a procedure to quantify ecosystem health over time, and defend a claim regarding the health of the ecosystem. 
• Grades: 9 to 12
• Time: 12 weeks (including data collection) 
• Author: T Kochenderfer

Arizona Standards Engaged

HS.E1U1.12: Develop and use models of the Earth that explains the role of energy and matter in Earth’s constantly changing internal and external systems (geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere). 

HS.L2U1.19: Develop and use models that show how changes in the transfer of matter and energy within an ecosystem and interactions between species may affect organisms and their environment.