Unit 4: Ecology

Essential Questions What is ecology? What factors affect population sizes and growth rates? How do humans exploit the environment and how does this effect various ecosystems? How can humans positively effect the environment? What are some current conservation efforts, and where are conservation efforts heading?

Day 1: Ecology and Ecosystems Required Readings: 2.1: Ecology and Ecosystems Learning Objectives: To understand that living organisms require certain conditions for their survival To understand that living organisms interact with one another, and with their non-living environment To define population, community and ecosystem To realize that available resources change throughout the year

Starter List the different ecosystems that you know What is the climate like in these ecosystems? What animals and plants are present in the ecosystems? Time: 10 minutes

Activity 1 Choose one of the biomes below and complete the graphic organizer for your biome Tundra Tropical rain forest Taiga Desert Temperate deciduous forest Grasslands Savanna Marine Fresh water Time: 20 minutes

Activity 2 Create a poster for your biome Include the following items: Weather & climate Plants, animals and their relationships Ecological concerns or issues Time: 25 minutes

Activity 3 Ecosystems at school Go around the school and complete the “ecosystems at school” activity Find 2 different “ecosystems” in different locations Time: 25 minutes

Closing and Homework What do the following words mean? Biotic Abiotic Community Ecosystem Population Complete your biome poster Complete the ecosystems at school activity Complete Biomes of the world flow chart

Day 2: Factors affecting population size & Human population growth (45 minutes) Required Readings: 4.8 & 4.9 Learning Objectives: To understand what is meant by environmental resistance To list examples of biotic and abiotic factors which limit population growth To explain the form of a typical growth curve To know that the evolution of humans from hunter-gatherers to permanent settlers caused changes in the environment To understand the form of a human population growth curve

Starter What is a carrying capacity? What are biotic and abiotic factors that would contribute to a population’s carrying capacity? Are humans at their carrying capacity? Explain Time: 10 minutes

Activity 1 We will complete the activity “How many bears can live in the forest?” Time: 30 minutes

Homework Human population growth is exploding at an exponential rate. The graph on the next page shows the population growth, as well as some predictions What are the 3 revolutions that have occurred to aid in this exponential growth? The red, orange, and green lines on the graph are predictions for what could happen to human population growth. What are the different situations that could lead to each of these predictions? Choose your home country and create a population pyramid for it (if data is not available, choose any other country) Does it have an LEDN or MEDN structure? Explain What are the different factors that have contributed to the particular structure it has?

Day 3: Agriculture Required Readings: Learning Objectives: 4.10, 4.11 To understand why agriculture is a threat to conservation To understand how careful management can help to conserve biodiversity To understand that chemical discharges may pollute land as well as air and water To understand that many human effects on the land involve loss of wildlife habitat To know that there are ways to reverse loss of wildlife habitiat

Starter Make a table in your notebook that depicts the pros and cons of agriculture Take into consideration: land use, pollution, habitats for plants and animals, biodiversity, soil stability, etc. Be thorough in your explanations Time: 15 minutes

Activity 1 You will be given 1 of 3 groups Farmers Conservationist Consumer Your job is to research agriculture from your group’s point of view in order to have a debate with the other 2 groups You will need to have an opening and closing statement, as well as points to argue during the debate Time: 45 minutes

Activity 2 Debate Each side will present their opening argument Each side will then have time to prepare rebuttal statements Each side will then present their closing argument You will be asked to vote which side presented the strongest case Time: 20 minutes

Closing and Homework Work with a partner to write a paper that depicts the pros and cons of agriculture How can we move forward to prevent habitat loss, preserve biodiversity, and decrease the damage to soil? Due: December 5 All outstanding assignments/corrections due December 7

Day 4: Pollution Required Readings: Learning Objectives: 4.12 To recall why water is important to living organisms To understand that water supplies oxygen to living organisms TO know how excess nutrients in water lead to depletion of oxygen levels To recall other aspects of water pollution

Starter Why is oxygen depletion in water a negative thing? What are the causes for oxygen depletion, or polluting of water sources? What are some ways that you can help with the prevention of water pollution?

Activity 1 Imagine those rivers were your only source of water and you depended on them for cooking, bathing, washing up, etc. Your lab group has been asked to clean up these rivers so that the communities can continue using it without the risk of getting very ill You will be given a bucket of water that contains “pollution” in it, as well as some supplies you can use to clean it Your lab group must devise a plan to clean the water, and then clean it The group that has the cleanest water, and the largest quantity of clean water will receive a contract to clean the village’s water supply Time: 60 minutes

Activity 2 We will discuss the action plans of each of the lab groups What are some ways that we can improve on our water clean up? What implications does this have for real life? What are some ways that we can prevent this? Time: 15 minutes

Closing and Homework All outstanding work due by Friday, December 7

Day 5: Human Impact on the Environment Required Readings: 4.13 Learning Objectives:

Day 6: Positive Human Influences (60 min) Required Readings: 4.14 Learning Objectives:

Day 7: Conservation Efforts Required Readings: 4.15 Learning Objectives: