Proyecto Xolotl

Period 1PBL 9°

• Regeneration: Axolotls can regenerate entire limbs, spinal cords, and even parts of their hearts and brains.
• Neoteny: Unlike most amphibians, they retain their juvenile aquatic form throughout their life, including external gills.
• Endemic species: They are native only to the lakes of Mexico City, primarily Xochimilco.
• Adaptation to low oxygen: Their external gills and ability to breathe through their skin allow them to thrive in oxygen-poor environments.
• Critically endangered: Due to habitat loss and pollution, axolotls are considered critically endangered in the wild.

Ambystoma mexicanu

Mexican Axolotls

Objective

Design and create a temperature sensor that monitors and maintains the optimal water conditions for the Ambystoma mexicanum, while explaining how regulating temperature in aquatic ecosystems supports the conservation of this species and its habitat.

Driving question

Could you design a temperature sensor that helps conserve the Ambystoma mexicanum (axolotl) habitat by maintaining optimal conditions for its survival, and explain how understanding the role of temperature in aquatic ecosystems contributes to species conservation?

WEEK: September 30 to October 4

Final Presentarion

Time line

WEEK: September 30 to October 4

Construction

WEEK: September 23 to 27

Team activities

WEEK: September 16 to 20

Research

WEEK: September 9 to 13

Entry event

Biology learning objectives

Explain the effect of temperature and pH changes on enzyme activity

Topic 4

Explain enzyme action with reference to the complementary shape of the enzyme's active site and its substrate, and the formation of a produc

Investigate and describe the effect of temperature and pH changes on enzymes

Define enzymes as proteins that act as biological catalysts

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Topic 3

Topic 2

Topic 1

Important Information

Relate this concept to the enzymes that enable vital processes in the Ambystoma mexicanum. By understanding how these enzymes function correctly under optimal conditions, we can better grasp what environmental factors must be controlled to maintain the axolotl's health.

Important Information

Explain that the axolotl's natural habitat is highly sensitive to changes in temperature and pH, which can affect the enzymes involved in its metabolism, digestion, and other biological processes. Maintaining a stable environment is therefore crucial for its survival.

Important Information

Connect this with the Ambystoma mexicanum by investigating how specific enzymes allow the axolotl to absorb nutrients or repair tissues, and how these processes are disrupted if water temperature or pH changes.

Important Information

Reflect on how climate change or water pollution affects the pH and temperature levels of the axolotl's habitat, endangering the enzymatic functions vital for its survival. This underscores the importance of conserving the axolotl’s aquatic environment, avoiding disturbances in its natural conditions.