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SNC BIOLOGY SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS & HUMAN … Introduction.

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Presentation on theme: "SNC BIOLOGY SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS & HUMAN … Introduction."— Presentation transcript:

1 SNC BIOLOGY SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS & HUMAN … Introduction

2 Trouble for the Cricket Frog The northern cricket frog is in trouble. This tiny member of the tree frog family spends much of its life in or near water in areas such as marshes, ponds, and streams. The northern cricket frog is currently considered an endangered species in Canada. Cricket frog numbers have declined for three main reasons: loss of habitat, pollution from pesticide, and the introduction of carp that prey on the frogs.

3 Trouble for the Cricket Frog Cricket frogs are amphibians. They have lungs for breathing but also absorb dissolved oxygen directly through their thin skins. When their skin is wet, oxygen from water or air passes through their skin into an extensive network of blood vessels. Because this dissolved oxygen enters their blood directly from water and air, amphibians are especially sensitive to pollution.

4 Trouble for the Cricket Frog But why would scientists care about amphibians? It is because they believe that the health problems and decline in population of amphibians like the cricket frog may be signs that other living things, including humans, are also in trouble from excessive environmental pollution.

5 Overall Expectations By the end of this unit, students will: 1. analyse the impact of human activity on terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems, and assess the effectiveness of selected initiatives related to environmental sustainability; 2. investigate factors related to human activity that affect terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems, and describe the consequences that these factors have for the sustainability of these ecosystems; 3. demonstrate an understanding of characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the interdependence within and between ecosystems, and the impact humans have on the sustainability of these ecosystems.

6 Big Ideas Concepts that students should retain long after this course are:  Ecosystems consist of a variety of components, including, in many cases, humans.  The sustainability of ecosystems depends on balanced interactions between their components.  Human activity can affect the sustainability of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

7 Getting Started: Useful Concepts & Skills CONCEPTS REVIEW 1. Look at the diagram. (a) Which organisms are producers? (b) Which organisms are consumers? (c) What type of consumer is the squirrel? the snake? the owl? (d) What do you think would happen if the maple tree became extinct? the snake?

8 Getting Started: Useful Concepts & Skills CONCEPTS REVIEW 2. The diagram below shows a woodland ecosystem. (a) List two biotic features of this woodland ecosystem. (b) List two abiotic features of this woodland ecosystem.

9 Getting Started: Useful Concepts & Skills CONCEPTS REVIEW 3. The diagram shows the process of secondary succession. (a) Describe what is happening to the plant community. (b) What is the difference between primary and secondary succession?

10 Getting Started: Useful Concepts & Skills Primary succession is the gradual growth of an ecosystem in an environment that is devoid of any vegetation or soil (i.e. a lava flow or a glacial retreat) Secondary succession is the growth of an ecosystem in an environment that previously supported vegetation (i.e. forest fire, tsunami, or flood).

11 CONCEPTS REVIEW 4. Describe how the two activities shown below can influence the environment. Is the effect positive or negative?

12 Getting Started: Useful Concepts & Skills SKILLS REVIEW 5. (a) Make a bar graph using the data shown. Give your graph a title and label the axes. (b) What does the graph tell you about the deer population? (c) What are some factors that may have caused a change in the deer population?

13 Getting Started: Useful Concepts & Skills SKILLS REVIEW 6. The circle graph given shows data on species of plants and animals in Ontario that are at risk. Estimate the percentage of species that fall into each category.

14 Getting Started: Useful Concepts & Skills SKILLS REVIEW 7. Describe how water is cycled through the environment.

15 Activity: The Lorax (BIOL-WS1) ISSUE The LORAX is a fictional story about a man who abused the environment and about what he learned. The story begins in the most run-down part of a dull, gray town. A small boy asks the Once-ler to share the secret of the Lorax and how he was "taken away." Thus, the story is told as a "flashback" as the Once-ler talks about the Lorax and past events. INSTRUCTIONS A. Watch the video and answer the questions given on BIOL - WS1.


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