1. Today’s Bell Ringer 11 April
Bill Nye – food webs
FSA testing on Monday and Tuesday

2. Along with the definition of the following words – provide an example
13 April
Today’s Bell Ringer
Please Define these words -
Food Chain –
Food Web –
Along with the definition of the following
words – provide an example
Producers –
Primary consumer –
Secondary consumer –
Tertiary consumer –
Trophic level –
Do you remember what autotrophs and heterotrophs are?
Study Guide
Please do all of pages 133 & 134

3. Along with the definition of the following words – provide an example
14 April
Today’s Bell Ringer
In your notebook, think of something you ate this morning and
think about how it came to be in front of you.
It is all about energy transfer.
Please Define these words -
Food Chain –
Food Web –
Along with the definition of the following words – provide an example
Producers –
Primary consumer –
Secondary consumer –
Tertiary consumer –
Trophic level –
Do you remember what autotrophs and heterotrophs are?
Study Guide
Please do all of pages 133 & 134

4. Food Chain

5. Food web

7. Two of Newton’s four laws of Thermodynamics
First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.
The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that "in all energy exchanges, if no energy enters or leaves the system, the potential energy of the state will always be less than that of the initial state." This is also commonly referred to as entropy.
10% Rule – The approximate energy of
one trophic level that is transferred to the next
(it is actually less than 10%)

8. What is your food web?
Where does it all begin?

9. A pyramid of numbers shows the numbers of individual organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.
tertiary
consumers
secondary
primary
producers 5
5000
500,000
5,000,000 5
A vast number of producers are required to support even a few top level consumers.

10. 10% Rule – The approximate energy of
energy transferred
energy
lost
10% Rule – The approximate energy of
one trophic level that is transferred to the next
(it is actually less than 10%)

11. Biomass is a measure of the total dry mass of organisms in a given area.
tertiary
consumers
secondary
primary
producers
75 g/m2
150g/m2
675g/m2
2000g/m2

12. Trophic Cascades – Wolves in Yellowstone National Park
Study Guide
Please do all of pages 139 & 140

13. 15 April
Today’s Bell Ringer
A few days ago you answered the Study Guide Questions on page 134.
Please review your answers then answer the following questions.
Why do scientists collect data?
What should be done with the data they collect?
Can ecological studies be done in a laboratory?
If you were going to study some aspect of the natural world, what would it be?

15. What relationships do you see here?

18. KEY CONCEPT Ecology is the study of the relationships among organisms (biotic/living) and their environment (abiotic/non-living).

19. Ecologists study environments at different levels of organization.
Ecology is the study of the interactions among living things, and between living things and their surroundings.

20. An organism is an individual living thing, such as an alligator.

21. A population is a group of the same species that lives in one area.
Organism

22. A community is a group of different species that live together in one area.
Population
Organism

23. An ecosystem includes all of the organisms as well as the climate, soil, water, rocks and other nonliving things in a given area.
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organism

24. A biome is a major regional or global community of organisms characterized by the climate conditions and plant communities that thrive there.
Biome
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organism

25. Ecological research methods include observation, experimentation, and modeling.
Observation is the act of carefully watching something over time.
Observations of populations can be done by visual surveys.
Direct surveys for easy to spot species employ binoculars or scopes.
Indirect surveys are used for species that are difficult to track and include looking for other signs of their presence.

26. Experiments are performed in the lab or in the field.
Lab experiments give researchers more control.
Lab experiments are not reflective of the complex interactions in nature.
Field experiments give a more accurate picture of natural interactions.
Field experiments may not help determine actual cause and effect.

27. Computer and mathematical models can be used to describe and model nature.
Modeling allows scientists to learn about organisms or ecosystems in ways that would not be possible in a natural or lab setting.
Ecologists use data transmitted by GPS receivers worn by elephants to develop computer models of the animal’s movements.

28. HOMEWORK
Over the weekend, please spend about 30 minutes looking at the landscape around your home/townhouse/apartment.
Count the number of different plants.
Count the number of different animals (birds, lizards, frogs, insects etc).
Repeat this activity in a nearby natural area, someplace where there isn’t turf grass or homes. The beach counts!
1) You will need to write up your observations in a narrative describing your 30-minute observations from around your home and the natural area.
2) You will also need to make a Table with the data you collected.
Turn in your write up on Monday for a grade.
3) Please summarize you overall observations of the urban and natural landscapes.
Organism
No. of species from around your home
No. of species from the natural area
Plants
Birds
Insects
reptiles
All other animals

29. Today’s Bell Ringer What did you find when you looked at your home
19 April
Today’s Bell Ringer
What did you find when
you looked at your home
landscape vs. a natural area?

30. Biomes are land-based, global communities of organisms.
Biomes – Chapter 15.3
KEY CONCEPT
Biomes are land-based, global communities of organisms.
Study Guide
Please do all of pages 159 and 160

31. Earth has six major biomes.
20 April
Today’s Bell Ringer
Earth has six major biomes.
A biome is a major community of organisms.

32. Tropical rain forest biomes produce lush forests.
Source: World Meteorological Organization
warm temperature
abundant precipitation all year

33. Grassland biomes are where the primary plant life is grass.
Rapid City, South Dakota
Source: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration

34. Grassland biomes are where the primary plant life is grass.
Temperate grasslands are dry and warm during the summer; most precipitation falls as snow.
Tropical grasslands are warm through the year, with definite dry and rainy seasons.

35. Desert biomes are characterized by a very arid climate.
Tucson, Arizona
Source: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
very low amount of precipitation
four types: hot, semi-arid, coastal, and cold

37. Temperate forest biomes include deciduous forests and rain forests.
Temperate deciduous forests have hot summers and cold winters.
Deciduous trees are the dominant plant species.
Source: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
Burlington, Vermont

38. Deciduous trees are the dominant plant species.
Temperate forest biomes include deciduous forests and rain forests.
Temperate deciduous forests have hot summers and cold winters.
Deciduous trees are the dominant plant species.
The temperate rain forests have a long wet season and relatively dry summer.
Ferns and moss cover the forest floor. 

39. The taiga biome is located in cooler northern climates.
Source: Environment Canada
Banff, Canada
boreal forest
long winters and short summers
small amount of precipitation

40. The tundra biome is found in the far northern latitudes with long winters.
Barrow, Alaska
Source: National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
winter lasts 10 months
limited precipitation
permafrost

41. Minor biomes, such as chaparral, occur globally on a smaller scale.

42. Polar ice caps and mountains are not considered biomes.
Polar ice caps have no soil, therefore no plant community.
The climate and organisms found on mountains change as the elevation changes.

43.
Mt. St. Helens
Primary succession

44. A huge problem in every country of the world.
Invasive Species:
A huge problem in every country of the world.
Florida estimates: over 1,000 non-native plants
over 500 non-native animals
An invasive species is one which persists in the environment and grows to such an extent that it displaces native plants and animals. Invasive species usually are not kept in check by pathogens and predators since they did not evolve in those ecosystems.
For the next few minutes, make a list with your neighbor and identify five invasive
animals and five invasive plants – AND what problems they cause.

45. Today’s Bell Ringer Biomes – Chapter 14.5 KEY CONCEPT
21 April
Today’s Bell Ringer
Biomes – Chapter 14.5
KEY CONCEPT
Ecological succession is a process of change in the species that make up a community.
Study Guide
Please do all of pages 153 and 154

46. Succession occurs following a disturbance in an ecosystem.
Succession regenerates or creates a community after a disturbance.
a sequence of biotic changes
damaged communities are regenerated
new communities arise in previously uninhabited areas

47. There are two types of succession.
primary succession — started by pioneer species

48. There are two types of succession.
secondary succession — started by remaining species

49. Exotic plants

50. Exotic animals

51. Today’s Bell Ringer Sections that will be covered next week
22 April
Today’s Bell Ringer
Sections that will be covered next week
Study Guide
Pg. 141 – questions 5, 6, & 7
Pg. 142 – questions 8, 9, 10, & 12
Pg. 152 – questions 8 – 12
Pg. 161 – all questions
Pg. 164 – “main Idea”
Pg. 165 – all questions
Pg. 167 – all questions
Pg. 169 – questions 3 & 4
Pg. 170 – question 5
Pg. 171 – questions 2, 4, & 5
Pg. 172 – question 6
13.5 – Cycling of matter
14.4 – Population Growth Patterns
15.4 – Marine Ecosystems
15.5 – page 474, Ponds and lakes
16.1 – Human Population
16.2 – Air Quality
16.3 – Water Quality
16.4 – Threats to Biodiversity

52. Define the following words:
Decomposer –
Biodiversity –
Limiting factors –
Population density –
Predation –
Biomagnification –
Emigration –
Immigration –
Predators, prey, & carrying capacity –
Ecological disruption (humans altering the environment) –
Carbon cycle –