Ecology

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Ecology

• Standard 7.4

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Oct. 26/29 Day 1 Ecology Biotic Factors

• Today we will
• Part I Tests back and PACT Practice
• Part II - Discuss Ecosystems
• US Video clip Ecosystems Organisms and their
  Environment
• Article Inside the rainforests of the sea, Coral
  Reefs and their endangerment
• Make a coral polyp
• Brainpop Ecosystems

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THINK

• What are ecosystems?
• What are the effects of human activities on
  ecosystems?

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Ecosystems

• Ecosystems are divided into specific levels of
  organization. These levels are what make the
  ecosystem complex.

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• Ecosystems - dynamic units composed of the
  community and the abiotic environment, including
  water, sunlight, oxygen, temperature and soil.

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• Biomes - the largest recognizable assemblage of
  animals and plants on Earth and are determined
  mainly by climate.

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Activities

• Article and Make a polyp

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Oct. 30/31 Day 2 -

• When You Enter
• Today We Will
• Make a Prove It! Folder for data collected in
  this unit.
• Activity Chocolate Bug Mimicry
• Homework

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Prove It!

• What are the effects of human activities on
  ecosystems?
• If humans and other factors affect ecosystems
  lets prove it!

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THINK

• What things (factors) in the environment
  influence survival?
• What role do plants, animals, humans, water,
  soil, air, bacteria, etc. play in that survival?

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Levels of organization, from the simple to
complex

• Species - a group of similar organisms that can
  reproduce with each other
• Ex. Deer
• Populations- all the individuals of a given
  species in a specific area or region at a certain
  time. Ex. Herd of deer

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• Habitat - the location where a population
  obtains food, water, shelter and other things
  needed in order to survive
• Ex. Forest
• Niche - the particular role that the population
  serves in its environment
• Ex. Deer eat grass and are food for mountain lions

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Communities

• Communities - all the different populations in a
  specific area or region at a certain time.
• Ex. Deer, bluebirds, eagles, squirrels, mountain
  lions, snakes, ants

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Organisms have energy roles

• Producer organisms that make their food from
  the sun, plants
• Consumer organisms that eat plants or other
  animals, animals
• Decomposer organisms that break down or decay
  dead organisms bacteria, fungi some animals such
  as worms and inse

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The flow of energy can be represented using the
following diagrams

• Food chain -Uses pictures or words and arrows to
  show the movement of energy through the trophic
  levels of organisms.

Play Chain Reaction at http//ecokids.ca/pub/eco
_info/topics/frogs/chain_reaction/index.cfm
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Food Web

• Food web - Describes the organisms found in
  interconnecting food chains using pictures or
  words and arrows.

Create your own food web at http//www.vtaide.com
/png/foodchains.htm
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Energy Pyramid

• Energy pyramid - Shows the amount of energy that
  moves from one trophic level to another in a food
  chain.

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Day 3

• When You Enter
• Today we will
• Play Oh Deer! An outdoor activity ?
• Discuss limiting factors
• Look at the cases of the Lynx/Hare and the
  Rattlesnakes/Birds/Rodents
• Homework

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Changes in Population

• Changes in populations can occur when new members
  enter a population or when members leave a
  population.
• Births birth rate
• Deaths death rate
• Immigration organisms move in from another
  environment
• Emigration when part of a population leaves an
  environment
• These changes can have an effect on the amount of
  resources available in the environment. This can
  lead to competition for food, water, space, or
  shelter.

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Limiting Factors

• Climate - the temperature and amount of
  rainfall in a particular environment.
• Availability of food - Organisms require a
  certain amount of food to survive.
• Availability of water, space, and shelter -
  Plants need space in order to, grow, and obtain
  the necessary nutrients from the soil. Animals
  need space in order to find food and shelter.
• Carrying capacity- The maximum number of
  organisms an environment can support

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Changes in the Environment

• Natural Hazards can cause changes in the
  environment
• Landslides
• Wildfires
• Floods
• Changes in Populations

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Landslides

• Landslides - rock, earth, or debris flows on
  slopes due to gravity.
• Can occur on any terrain given the right
  conditions of soil, moisture, and the angle of
  slope. 
• Caused by rains, floods, earthquakes, and other
  natural causes, as well as, human-made causes
  such as excessive development or clear-cutting
  for lumber.
• Effect the environment blocking roads, damaging
  or destroying homes, destroying habitats, or
  disrupting power lines.

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Wildfires

• Natural event in most forest ecosystems.
• Can be beneficial to the ecosystem and are an
  essential component in the life cycle of some
  trees.
• Occur naturally through lightning strikes
• Occur when humans start them accidentally or
  intentionally.
• Effects of wildfires on the environment
  increased air pollution, habitat destruction, or
  destroying homes or property.

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Floods

• Flood- an unusually high water stage in which
  water overflows its natural or artificial banks
  onto normally dry land.
• Two basic types of floods
• regular river flood, water slowly climbs over
  the edges of a river.
• flash flood, occurs when a wall of water
  quickly sweeps over an area . more dangerous type

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Factors contributing to the cause of a flood

• Heavy, intense rainfall
• Over-saturated soil, when the ground can't hold
  anymore water.
• High river, stream or reservoir levels caused by
  unusually large amounts of rain
• Urbanization, or lots of buildings and parking
  lots
• Effects of floods on the environment property
  damage, endangering humans and animals, or
  causing soil erosion and deposition of sediment.