Chapter 5 Northern Character

Pages 68-791

By Lester Green Smallwood Academy Gambo

5.1 Students will identify major ecosystems of Canada

5.1.1 Define the term ecosystem.

Interactions between living organisms and its nonliving environment

5.1.2 Using a map illustrating the natural vegetation regions of Canada, identify the

major ecosystems of Canada.

Map Assignment

WorksheetStudents are asked to identify the major ecosystems of Canada and place them on the outline map of Canada. Students should use the map page 70

Students are also asked to reproduce a copy of the soil profile shown on page 69 with proper labeling. This diagram should be done on the back of the map

Done NEATLY and in color

Define all terms that are in Bold print on page 69

5.1.3 Using a climate map and an ecosystems map, complete the following chart.• Climate Region and Characteristics • Ecosystem and Characteristics Write a sentence to describe the relationship

between climate and vegetation.

5.2 Students will examine interrelationships among selected components within ecosystems.

5.2.1 Differentiate the terms producers, consumers, omnivores, and decomposers.

Producers obtain energy by photosynthesis

Consumers• Obtain energy

by eating other organisms

5.2.2 Given a brief description of a Canadian ecosystem, identify the producers, consumers, and decomposers.

• See smartboard lesson on food chains and webs

5.2.3 Define the term food chain.

A community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member

5.2.4 Define the term food web.

A complex of interrelated food chains in an ecological community

5.2.5 Given a brief description of a Canadian ecosystem, draw a diagram to

illustrate inter-relationships among organisms for a selected food web.

Worksheet # 1 Simple Food Web

Worksheet #2 Simplified Antarctic Food Web

5.2.6 For a given Canadian ecosystem, describe how a selected animal species is

adapted to northern conditions.

5.2.6 continued…

5.2.6 continued…Worksheet #3 To outsmart the Red Fox

5.2.7 For a given Canadian ecosystem, describe how a selected plant species is adapted to northern conditions.• Coniferous trees have

thick bark• They are cone shaped,

with flexible branches • Cones protect the

seeds during the harsh winter.

5.2.7 continued…• The thin waxy

needles reduce water loss.

• Photosynthesis occurs whenever there is sufficient sunlight.

• The dense forest creates warmth

• Worksheet #4

5.2.8 Given an account of a disruption in an ecosystem (e.g., the removal of a plant

species), predict the probable impact on the ecosystem.

5.3 Students will describe the conditions that affect soil fertility.

Pages 69-74

5.3.1 Identify the four main components which make up soil.

1. Water containing the nutrients that plants take up through their root system - in pore spaces.

2. Air filling the spaces in the soil not filled by water and supplying oxygen to plants - in pore spaces.

5.3.1 continued…

3. Organic matter (Humus) living plant material including roots and rhizomes plus dead and decaying plant matter.

4. Solid mineral particles these particles vary greatly in their size and there can be a mixture of particle sizes within any one soil.

5.3.2 Differentiate the terms accumulation of humus, leaching, eluviation, and capillary action.Accumulation of humus

Collection of organic materials near the surface of the ground

LeachingWhen rain and groundwater cause soil and its minerals to move deeper into the ground

5.3.2 continued…Eluviation

Movement of dissolved or suspended materials from the upper layers to lower layers by downward movement of water

Capillary actionMovement of moisture upwards in soil that carries minerals closer to the surface

Worksheet #5 Soil Profiles

5.3.3 Given a photo of a soil profile

identify the different horizons

determine the ecosystem in which the soil depicted is likely to be found.

5.3.4 Given photos of two soil profiles, determine which is likely to be the more fertile.

5.3.5 Explain why tundra soils are infertile.Long harsh winters, very short summers. Little precipitation (10-25cm per year) most

of it in summer. Soils are nutrient poor, little organic litter. Permafrost. Surface melts in the summer.

Permafrost prevents large plants from growing.

See text, page 70-71

5.36 Given a diagram illustrating the relationship between soil fertility and precipitation, inscribe each of four given soil types in its correct position on the curve.a. heavily leached soilb. black prairie soilc. brown prairie soild. lightly leached soil

Continued…

Worksheet #6: Soil and Vegetation Regions of Canada

5.4 Students will value the need for Canadians to be responsive to the fragile

nature of an ecosystem

5.4.1 Examine a graph or table showing the trend for the use of a given resource

Write a sentence to describe the pattern shown.

5.4.2 Read a newspaper article about damage by river pollution in Canada (e.g., threat to the beluga whale in the St. Lawrence). Summarize the article according to the following organizer• Causes

• Effects

• Possible Solutions

http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/video/belugas

5.4.2 continued…

Assignment #7 Case Study Beluga Whales

5.4.3 Show that forests are an important component of the ecosystem by explaining how they prevent soil erosion and maintain watersheds.

5.4.4 Explain how depletion of the ozone layer may affect a given ecosystem.

5.4.5 Examine a case study of how the natural balance among organisms in agiven ecosystem is being disrupted by

some form of pollution. (e.g. loss of fish in a lake as a result of acid rain)

• Identify the source of pollution• Describe how the source of pollution negatively

affected the food web• Suggest strategies for solving this problem

• 5.4.6 Through the use of case study material, examine the views/actions of selected groups on a given environmental issue (e.g., loggers vs. environmentalists in the harvesting of trees in British Columbia; developers vs. native groups on hydro development of the Great Whale). Identify the underlying values of each group. Explain how your values on this issue compare with those held by each side.

5.4.7 Identify an environmental issue in your area (e.g., the disposal of garbage into

a landfill area).

Determine the cause of the problem, suggeststrategies to correct it, and communicate thesestrategies in the form of a letter to the editor of thelocal paper.