HES+Unit+2a

Unit Two: Ecosystems and Ecology- = [|STUDY GUIDE Ecology Unit.doc] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Test Date: Tuesday, Jan. 19th || || || external image webfinal1.gif ||= = = = =

= = =__PART I - Abiotic Components of Ecosystems__ = **Focus**: //How do organisms and environments influence each other?// (Textbook Chapters 5-7 and 14)

**1. Introduction to Ecology**
**Essential Questions:** //What is Ecology? What is the difference between biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem? How are they dependent on one another?// **Homework #1-a**: "Intro to Ecology" (Chap. 5) Define BOLD terms //in your own words// from page 79-82 (Stop before "Natural Selection"). Respond to RQ #2 on p. 102.

**2-a.) Land and Soil** (Biogeochemical Cycles Coloring Book, Chapter 14, p. 308-316 in text)
**Essential Questions:** //How is soil created? What determines if soil is suitable for supporting plant growth? How do basic nutrients enter the food web?// Animations of Biogeochemical Cycles: [|Carbon Cycle] [|Nitrogen Cycle] [|Hydrological Cycle] [|Biomolecules Refresher] **LAB:** Analyzing Soil Quality **MINI-VID's**: (my apologies for the annoying commercials) [|Abiotic Parts of Soil] [|Water] [|Air] [|Light] [|Heat] [|Nitrogen Cycle] [|Water Cycle] [|Carbon-Oxygen Cycle] [|Video Quiz]
 * Homework #2-a**: "Soil" (Chapter 14) Read p. 308-316 in text. RQ#2, 3, 5-8.

**2-b.) Types of Ecosystems (Biomes)**
[|Primary Succession] [|Biome Animation Tutorials] ** Readings: [|What factors shape a biome's climate?] LAB:** Interpreting Biome Climate Patterns  [|LAB Climagraphs Biomes.docx]  [|LAB Climagraphs Biomes.doc] (Word 97-03) **LAB:** Monitoring Nutrient Cycles of a Freshwater Ecosytem. (  Long-term study of Degnan Pond, part one of three.) **LAB:** Calculating Carrying Capacity Skim pages 105-110. Define **BOLD** terms //in your own words//. RQ's # 1-2 on page 130. Skim pages 110-122 to answer RQ #3 on page 130. Skim pages 122-128. Define **BOLD** terms //in your own words//. RQ's #4- 6, 8-10, p. 130. **Homework #2-c:** Read the following two articles and then respond to the next following question: How is the broadly accepted history of what happened to the people at Easter Island relevant and valuable to the people of the US today? What should/could we learn or take away from the downfall of the Easter Island's civilization? **Reading 2:** [|Were Rats Behind the Easter Island Mystery?]
 * Essential Questions: ** //What is the difference between weather and climate? What factors make different ecosystems unique? What can you determine about the location of a biome by studying its annual temperature and precipitation patterns? What unique challenges does each biome face?//
 * Videos:** [|Introduction to Wetlands] [|What is a watershed?] [|Introduction to Watersheds] [|Causes of and Prevention of Pond Plant Growth] [|Importance of Pond Plants]
 * Homework #2-b: ** **"Kinds of Ecosystems and Communities"** (Chap. 6)
 * Reading 1 :** [|Easter Island- A Cautionary Tale of Resource Abuse]

Animations: [|Exponential Growth Animation] [|Habitat Fragmentation Tutorial and Animation]

=__ PART II - The Biosphere __ = = Chapter 3: Components of Biodiversity = Focus: //How do organisms and environments influence each other? How can Field Ecology techniques help us to better understand how to maintain a diverse and stable Earth?// (Textbook Chapters 5-7 and 14)

**1. Biodiversity**
**Essential Questions**: //What Exactly is Biodiversity? Why is high biodiversity more favorable than low biodiversity? What can happen to change the biodiversity in an area?// **LAB:** Mark and Recapture **Mini-Project:** Biodiversity Proposal- Using Conservation to Strengthen Economies - Instruction Page **Homework #3:** "Intro to Populations" (Chap. 7) Define BOLD terms //in your own words// and take notes from page 132-140 (SKIP "Sex Ratio and Age Dist." section on p.133-135 and STOP before "Human Population Growth", p.140). Answer: RQ #'s 1-6 and 8, page 146. Additional definitions may be found in Chapter 12. National Geographic Links: [|Whale vs Shark, Part I] [|Whale vs Shark Part II] Smallest Whale Shark Discovered -Scroll down to watch video for id marking research
 * LAB:** Calculating Biodiversity
 * Videos :** Truveo Links: [|Whale vs Shark, Part I] [|Whale vs Shark Part II]

**Essential Questions:** //How do Different Organisms Get the Nutrients they Need to Survive? What makes a food chain stable? What makes it unstable? How do populations of predators and prey affect one another? What determines an ecosystem's carrying capacity?// **LAB:** Carrying Capacities and Predator-Prey Cycles **LAB:** Analyzing Owl Food Webs [|Virtual Owl Pellet Lab] (Requires Flash) **Homework #5:** **"Nutrient/Feeding Interactions"** (Chapter 5). Scan-read and define **BOLD** terms //in your own words// on pages 90-94 (Start at "Community and Ecosystem Interactions"). Review page 95-98, define terms that you are unfamiliar with and sketch the carbon cycle (or translate into sentences) from the diagram on p.96. Answer RQ's #7-10, page 102.
 * 2. Nutritional Relationships**
 * Videos :** [|//Tyto alba Hunting//] [|Juvenile Tyto alba being cute] //[|Tyto communication] [|Reindeer and Mushrooms!!!]//

**Essential Questions:** //What happens when different species compete for the same niche? How have human activites altered the balance of biodiversity in ecosystems? How do humans interact with other species?// **Mini-Project:** Nature's Best Cheaters (mimicry) **Video:** Weird Nature [|Fishzilla - Snakehead Invasion] [|Nature Inc Aliens Part I] [|Aliens Part II] [|Aliens Part III] **Homework #4:** **"Other Organism Interactions"** (Chapter 5). Define **BOLD** terms on pages 86-90 //in your own words// ("Kinds of Organisms Interactions"). Answer: RQ's # 4 and 6, page 102 AND provide specific examples of **relationships with other species** where humans are: a.) Predatory; b.) Herbivorous; c.) Carnivorous; d.) Scavengers; e.) Commensalistic; f.) Parasitic; g.) Mutualistic; h.) Competitive.
 * 3. Other Ways that Organisms Interact**
 * Mini-Project:** Invasive Non-Native Species Wanted Poster (Read Chapter 6, p.126)

**4. Ecology's Connection to Natural Selection and Evolution**
**Essential Questions:** //What is the difference between "natural selection" and "evolution" (and why is it even important)? How do ecological challenges contribute to evolution of the unique traits? How can human activities altar or speed up natural selection?// **Homework #6:** **"The Role of Natural Selection and Evolution"** (Chapter 5) Read p. 82-86, take notes, define **BOLD** terms //in your own words//. RQ # 3 and Critical Thinking #2 and #4, page 102, [|Interesting Article about Catholocism and Evolution]
 * Lab:** Natural Selection and the Peppered Moth
 * Videos :** [|Vervet Monkeys of Saint Kitt's] [|Evolution of a Couch Potato]