Biodiversity and Ecosystems (Part 2)

What You'll Learn

Biodiversity—the variety of life in an ecosystem—makes ecosystems more resilient. Loss of biodiversity from human activities threatens ecosystem stability worldwide.

Key Words

amplitude
reflection
refraction

Materials Needed

scissors
straws
paper clips
rubber bands

Safety First

Use materials only as directed in the experiment.
Keep small objects away from young children.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read and learn: Biodiversity—the variety of life in an ecosystem—makes ecosystems more resilient. Loss of biodiversity from human activities threatens ecosystem stability worldwide.

Step 2 — Do

Conduct the experiment by following the instructions.

Step 3 — Observe

Compare the before and after states.

Step 4 — Record

Write your conclusion: did the results match your hypothesis?

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is refraction?