AP® Environmental Science: Microhabitat in a Bottle

Product Details

Overview 
In this inquiry lab, students are challenged to create a balanced ecosystem within a bottle. By managing solar input, biogeochemical cycles, and the interactions between biotic and abiotic components, students gain a deeper understanding of how our planet supports life through complex cycles and delicate ecological balances. The investigation connects core environmental science concepts—ecosystems, biomes, biogeochemical cycles, food chains and webs—to a tangible, hands-on experience. 

AP® Course and Exam Description Alignment 
This activity is aligned to the 2024 AP® Environmental Science Course and Exam Description, Unit 1: The Living World: Ecosystems.  

Learning Objectives addressed: 
● ERT-1.A: Explain how the availability of resources influences species interactions. 
● ERT-1.B: Describe the global distribution and principal environmental aspects of terrestrial biomes. 
● ERT-1.D: Explain the steps and reservoir interactions in the carbon cycle. 
● ERT-1.E: Explain the steps and reservoir interactions in the nitrogen cycle. 
● ERT-1.G: Explain the steps and reservoir interactions in the hydrologic cycle. 
● ENG-1.B: Explain how energy flows and matter cycles through trophic levels. 

Science Practices addressed 

 SP 1.A, 1.B, 1.C (Describe and explain environmental concepts and processes) 

SP 4.C, 4.D (Describe research methods and make observations) 

SP 5.B, 5.C (Describe relationships and explain patterns in data) 

Exam Connect questions are included, featuring both free-response and multiple-choice questions aligned to Unit 1 topics and science practices. 

Key Features 

Real sample data included. Kit instructions always include real sample data—never made up! Teachers have a complete 27-day observation table with sample answers to guide expectations. 

Tested and optimized. Each experiment has been thoroughly tested, retested, and optimized to guarantee safety and success. 

Prelab questions build foundational understanding, guided procedures walk students through setup, and post-lab questions progress from description to analysis to prediction. 

Flexible and adaptable. The cap can be left on to simulate a closed system or removed for an open system. Additional organisms (worms, crickets) can be introduced as the ecosystem stabilizes. 

Teacher Notes 
Estimated Time: Setup requires one 50-minute class period. Data collection spans 5–28 days depending on depth: Days 5–7 for initial stabilization and condensation; Days 10–14 for stable water cycling and plant growth trends; Days 14–28 for population change, nutrient limitations, and system imbalance observations. 

Kit accommodates 10 groups of students. 

Materials: Kit includes bottles, caps, soil, screens, wood skewers, grass seed, and aquarium gravel. 

Additional Materials: Light source and funnel (per group). 

Alternate Materials: Consider adding thermometers (inside the bottle or adhesive aquarium thermometers on the outside) to monitor temperature change throughout the investigation.