3-1 Assessment Essential Questions: What is ecology and why is it important to learn about? How is life organized into different levels of complexity?

1. List the six different levels of organization that ecologists study, in order from smallest to largest. Individual – one living thing Population – group of same kind of living thing in an area. Community – populations of living things in an area. Ecosystem – living and non-living things in an area. Biome – big ecosystem with particular kind of plants and climate. Biosphere – Whole living part of planet.

2. Describe the three methods of ecological research. Observing: using senses to gather info Experimenting: testing hypotheses in a lab or out in natural environment. Modeling: making simulations of ecological phenomena (things that happen). Example: computer models of climate change.

3. Identify two ways in which you interact every day with each of the three parts of the biosphere: land, water, and air. Land: walk on it, live on it, eat food grown on it, bury garbage in it. Water: drink it, bathe in it, clean with it, eat food grown with it. Air: breathe it, fly in it, activities depend on weather, climate. The burden of thirst: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/04/water-slaves/johnson-photography

All that's left of Ethiopia's Arayo River in the dry season is a muddy seep where women "scratch" for water. But thanks to a newly built sand dam upstream, the next heavy rains will pool in an underground reservoir of clean water accessed by a hand pump.

Rendille villagers in northern Kenya scoop the dregs from a water tank filled only the night before by a government truck but already drained below the level of its spigot. They must wait a week for the next delivery.

Gabra women in northern Kenya spend up to five hours a day carrying heavy jerry cans filled with murky water. A lingering drought has pushed this already arid region to a water crisis.

To understand what it’s like to carry 5 gallons of water 5 miles…… Carry a 5 gallon bucket of water to the back of the room and back (100 ft.) Now do that 265 more times…. ….every day in 90° heat for the rest of your life.

4. Suppose you wanted to know if the water in a certain stream is safe to drink. Which ecological method(s) would you choose, and why? Experimenting. Do chemical tests on water

5. Give an example of an ecological phenomenon that could be studied by modeling. Explain why modeling would be useful. Global warming/climate change. Change in global weather patterns over long periods of time too big and complicated to experiment with in lab.

How Do Climate Models Work? Weather data gathered from satellites, ocean sensors, and recording stations on land. Data for air, water, and land put into computer simulations…..

Computer models show which areas warmer, colder. Shows how this changes from month to month, year to year, decade to decade…. http://www.drroyspencer.com/2009/07/how-do-climate-models-work/

Population – local deer population Alternative Assessment: In a table, provide examples of the ecological levels where you live – individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems – that could be studied by ecologists. Individual – a deer Population – local deer population Community – populations of deer, trees Ecosystem – local forest (living & non-living parts)

What is ecology and why is it important to learn about? Ecology = study of how living things interact with their environments. Helps us understand how we are affecting our environment. Helps us understand how all animals, plants, etc. are interconnected and interdependent.