UNIT SELF-TEST QUESTIONS NAME DATE The Unit Organizer BIGGER PICTURE LAST UNIT /Experience CURRENT UNIT NEXT UNIT UNIT SELF-TEST QUESTIONS is about... UNIT RELATIONSHIPS UNIT SCHEDULE Ecology UNIT MAP Organisms’ Interactions Earth’s Organisms 8th Grade Science Ecosystem Organization Videos in Google Classroom Field Trip to the Zoo BrainPop Biome Race Biome Map Coloring Tiny Posters Adaptation Activity Symbiosis in the Sea Compare to Culpeper Niche Create a Food Web and Energy Pyramid Natural Cycle BrainPop Race Biotic/Abiotic, Food Web Hunt Analyze Population Studies Conduct Population Studies Habitat Change (Succession) Land use debate Review Test By differentiating between and comparing By understanding Ecosystems & Biomes Understanding Interactions between Biotic and Abiotic parts of the environment Human Impacts By understanding By identifying and exploring By examining Adaptations and Behaviors Populations & Communities Cycling of Energy & Material How does an organisms relationships with other populations relate to its role (niche) in its ecosystem? How can you distinguish between different trophic levels in a community? How are energy and important elements used by organisms and moved through an ecosystem? How does climate (an abiotic factor) effect the biotic populations/communities within a Biome? What are some potential impacts on local ecosystems as a result of use by humans? Relate Observe Distinguish Examine

Ecosystems Human Impacts The Unit Organizer Ecosystems & Biomes NAME DATE The Unit Organizer SELF-TEST QUESTIONS NEW UNIT Expanded Unit Map is about... Ecosystems By differentiating between and comparing Ecosystems & Biomes Understanding Interactions between Biotic and Abiotic parts of the environment By understanding Human Impacts - Humans are part of, use and effect ecosystems Food Harvest, Living Space, Energy, can be +,- - Can lead to : Habitat size/loss, Disturb balance of interconnected populations (ripple through ecosystem) - Can lead to issues with clean water, air, waste management, energy production. An Ecosystem is defined by biotic and abiotic factors in an area. 3 main categories – Terrestrial, Fresh Water, Marine. Organisms possess adaptations suited to survival in their ecosystem. Biomes are large scale regions with similar climate (rainfall, temperature) Major Biomes include: Tundra – Cold, low precip. Forest – medium temp, medium precip. Grassland – medium temp, low precip. Desert – Hot, low precip. Disasters and changes in climate may change ecosystem and communities found in them. By examining By identifying and exploring By understanding Cycling of Energy & Material Each organism fills a specific role or niche in its community. Important Elements cycle through living & nonliving parts of environment over and over. H2O Cycle – Precipitation, Transpiration, Run-off, Evaporation N Cycle – Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria, Decomposition C Cycle – Combustion, Decomposition Food Web/Energy Pyramid – Energy flows from producers to consumers. Consumers can be divided into trophic levels (1st order-3rd order) Amount of energy available to each level decrease as organisms use energy in life processes. Materials are recycled and made available by decomposers (bacteria, fungus) Populations & Communities Adaptations & Behaviors Population – group of organisms of the same species Community – All of the interacting populations in an ecosystem Types/reasons for interactions Competition for Resources Predator/Prey Symbiotic (Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism) Adaptations can be physical or behavioral. Adaptations help an organisms survive in its ecosystem. Thick white fur is great in the Tundra, but no good in the desert.