Objectives
1. Discuss the organization of ecology - biosphere, ecosystem, community, population, species
2. Discuss the interdependence of species on each other in terms of food webs and food chains.
3. Understand that the interdependence of organisms and environmental factors change depending on the biome
4. Discuss why some biomes (i.e. those nearest the equator) have more biodiversity than those near the poles. This should relate to a discussion of energy.
5. Discuss and identify organisms according to their trophic levels.
6. Be able to correctly apply terminology to trophic levels and food webs - autotroph, heterotroph, primary consumer, secondary consumer, scavenger, decomposer, omnivore etc.
7. Be able to analyze and discuss the relationship and information provided by the pyramids of biomass, numbers and energy.
8. Discuss the cyclic relationship between predator and prey.
9. Discuss carrying capacity of a species and reasons for this capacity.
10. Compare/Contrast the exponential and logistical models. Be able to discuss these models in the context of carrying capacity.
11. Discuss the purpose of competition, as well as where and why it would occur.
12. Compare and contrast density dependent and independent limiting factors.
13. Discuss and give examples of symbiosis - commensalism, parasitism and mutualism.
14. Be able to differentiate between predation and parasitism.
15. Discuss an age structure pyramid and discuss examples of the survivor ship curves (Type I, II and III).
16. Analyze the flow of nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon through their respective cycles. You should also be able to discuss the process of each cycle, and how each cycle can be disrupted via human activities.
17. Create a management and sustainability plan to reduce human impact of the environment
18. Discuss and analyze human impact on the environment.
Help videos
Energy Transfer
Food Chains (Review)
Food Webs (Review)
Climatogram
Biomes (Review)
Trophic levels and the 10% transfer rule
Population Ecology
Predator Prey Cycle
Carrying capacity (A)
Carrying Capacity, r and K selected species (H)
r and K selection (H)
Density Dependent and Independent Limiting factors (3:05-10:00)
Logistic growth model - up to 5:30 (you do not need to know how to calculate this model)
Exponential growth model (you do not need to know how to calculate this model)
Types of symbiosis
Predation vs. Parasitism
Survivorship curves
r and K selection (H)
Population Pyramids
Human population growth
Nutrient cycles
Carbon and nitrogen cycles (A)
Phosphorus cycle
Nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon cycles (H)
Human impacts
Deforestation
Succession (links to deforestation)
Ocean Acidification (Basic)
Ocean Acidification (Chemistry included)
Eutrophication
Biomagnification
Climate change (with Bill Nye)
Unit 4 - Energy Transfer Practice
Unit 4 - Energy Transfer Practice (key)
Unit 4 - Population Ecology Practice
Unit 4 - Population Ecology Practice (key)
Unit 4 - Nutrient Cycles
Unit 4 - Nutrient Cycles (key)
(Note - human impact will not have practice questions. Instead, you should be able to discuss the major issues surrounding the list above, while also suggesting ways to help lessen the damage from those impacts).