1. UNIT SELF-TEST QUESTIONS
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DATE
The Unit Organizer
BIGGER PICTURE
LAST UNIT
/Experience
CURRENT UNIT
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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

2. 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.