unit 4: ecology. essential questions what is ecology? what factors affect population sizes and...
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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: • 4.10, 4.11
• Learning Objectives:• 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:• 4.12
• Learning Objectives:• 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: