Ecology

What is Ecology?

Ecology = The study of the interaction of living and non-living things in their environment.

Biotic = Living things Abiotic = non-living

Ex: plants/animals Ex: Water/sunlight

What is Ecology?

Fathers of Ecology:Alexander von Humboldt:•"the unity of nature”• interrelation of biology, meteorology, geology etc.

Charles Darwin:•“organisms adapt to their environment”

Organism

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Biome

Organization of Ecology:

Organism: a single living thing. Population: a group of organisms of the same

species. Community: all of the different organisms and

populations in an ecosystem. Ecosystem: all of the living and non-living things

in an areas and their interactions. Biome: Huge ecosystems defined by the plant life

found there. Ex: Tundra, rainforest, deciduous forest etc.

Terms to know:

Rare and significant changes in the way that humans view the world.

Major changes which are controversial at first but come to be accepted as major advancements in scientific knowledge and understanding.

Paradigm shifts:

Old World View: New World View:

Earth is flat Earth is round

Earth centered universe Sun centered solar system Creationism Evolution

Spontaneous generation Biogenesis

Right now…. Resources are limitless Sustainability

Green Technology Still in progress?

Examples of Paradigm shifts:

Discuss & Answer: 1. How is it possible that people believe(d) that resources are limitless? 2. Do we still have people thinking this way today? 3. Why have we shifted to this new paradigm? 4. Is this paradigm still in the process of shifting? 5. What controversy is there regarding this new paradigm?

What would it look like?

Paradigm Shifts:

End of Easter Island (3 mins) Discovered by Dutch explorer on Easter Sunday, 1722. Desolate, treeless, 64 square mile island. Deforestation/extinction of palm tree had lead to collapse

of the native civilization who lived there. Trees were used to build boats, monuments etc. In a span of about 400 years, the seemingly limitless

resource had been used up. This is seen as a small-scale example and warning of what

we are doing to Earth today.

Paradigm Shifts: Easter Island

1. Why is it so surprising and unusual that frog species worldwide are disappearing?

2. Why are scientists so concerned about the disappearance of frogs? (What’s the big deal?)

3. Describe each of the four reasons why scientists think they are disappearing.

Malaria: The winged scourge

The Silence of the Frogs:

Answer questions 1, 2, and 3 on page 13.

The Silence of the Frogs:

1. What is meant by the term ‘spaceship Earth’? 2. What is the difference between a man-made

spaceship and the planet Earth? 3. What factors determine the diversity of life on

our planet? 4. Where on Earth do we find the most

biodiversity? (Explain why) 5. Where on Earth do we find the least

biodiversity? (Explain why?)

Diversity in Ecosystems (Pgs 8 and 9):

Science 10 Assignment: Unit: Ecosystems Topic: Endangered Species -Choose an endangered species from the website below and begin researching information: http://www.earthsendangered.com/index_s.asp -For the species you have been given, you will be graded on your ability to answer the following

questions: a) What is/are its habitat(s)? (Where exactly in the world is it found, and describe the particular

habitat) b) What is its place in the food chain? Is it a herbivore, carnivore, omnivore? What are its natural

predators (if any), what are its prey (if any)? c) What are the factors that have made it an endangered species? (What has caused it to become

endangered?) d) What (if anything) is being done to try and save the species? (How are people trying to protect

this organism from extinction?) e) Why we should be concerned about their disappearance (What would we lose? Why are they

important?) *You will also create a 3-D model of your organism from materials of your choice. *You will present your information to the class as a short presentation. *Be sure to provide me with your sources of information as well (web addresses, book title etc). *Value: 2 points for each question (10 total) and 10 points for your model. Total value of 20 points.   Due date:_____________________________ My species is: _________________________________  

Endangered Species Assignment:

Extinct: A species that no longer exists anywhere on Earth. (Ex: dinosaurs)

Endangered: A species that is close to becoming extinct in a large area (such as a country).

Extirpated: Any species that no longer exists in one part of Canada (or country) but exists in others.

Ex: Grizzly bears no longer in Manitoba, but in Alberta. Threatened: Any species that is likely to become endangered

if factors that are harming it are not reversed. Ex: Wood Bison is threatened by tuberculosis.

Vulnerable: A species that is at risk due to low or declining numbers. Ex: grey fox

At Risk Classifications

Mass Extinctions (Nova Science Now)

208 mya, 80% of all species died and dinosaurs began their rule of Earth

Mass Extinctions

65 mya, age of dinosaurs ended

Asteroid collision evidence in Mexico (Yucatan peninsula)

High amount of Iridium, in underwater crater

End of the dinosaurs:

-Smoke and debris in atmosphere blocks out sunlight, plants die and food chain collapses.

-Tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, forest fires etc.

How do asteroid collisions cause mass extinctions?

Threatened Trophic level Producer Extirpated Autotroph Vulnerable Albedo Ecotone Heterotroph Artificial

ecosystem

Biotic

Endangered Primary

consumer Herbivore Biodiversity Carnivore Natural

ecosystem Biomass Omnivore Secondary

consumer

Abiotic

Photosynthesis Habitat Extinct Pest Decomposer Thermodynamics Detritus Community Ecology Ecosystem

Vocabulary for chapter 1:

Gradual climate change (temp, moisture etc).

Species’ being outcompeted (food, territory etc).

Species must adapt or die out.

Other Causes of Extinction

8000 BCE – 1600 CE (about 1 species extinction every 1000 years) 1600 – 1900 (1 species every 4 years) Since then, 1 species every 30 mins? How are humans causing mass extinctions

today? Habitat destruction Pollution Overhunting Global warming

Extinction in the Modern World

Create a placemat to answer the following questions (pages 42-44).

1. a) What does the term “exotic species” mean? B) Where did the zebra mussel come from?

2. How did the zebra mussel get into the Great Lakes?

3. Create a list of positive effects of its introduction to the Great Lakes.

4. List of negative effects.

The Zebra Mussel:

Imported bees outcompeted other species of bees.

Overall honey production in Brazil dropped.

African bees have killed animals and humans.

Continue to spread further north toward Canada.

Humans and Exotic Species

Killer Bees introduced into Brazil from Africa.Idea was to increase honey production.

BioamplificationBiotic potentialClosed populationCombustionEmigration Glucose

Mortality Natality Open population Pesticide Photsynthesis Immigration

Chapter 2 Vocabulary:Divide a plain white page into 12 equal squares. Put one of the words below into each square then draw a colored picture to explain what it means. No words allowed in your explanation!

“Bill Nye: Biodiversity” Video Worksheet Name _____________________________

1. For a(n) ____________________ to be healthy, it has to have lots of different kinds of plants and animals.

2. Name four types of ecosystems from those listed in the video. a. b. c. d. 3. All living things depend on _______________________________________________. 4. Name four extinct species. a. b. c. d. 5. The best way to wipe out a species is to

______________________________________. 6. The largest ecosystem in the world is the ______________________________. 7. ______% of the world is covered by water. 8.________ of all the species in

the world live in the ocean. 9. List five things you can do to increase biodiversity. A. b. c. d. e. 10. Approximately how many species are we losing per hour? _________

Bill Nye: Biodiversity

Complete the worksheet for pages 50 and 51, as well as 62-64.

This worksheet covers information for: A) nutrient cycling B) The carbon cycle

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems

Bioamplification

Biotic potential Closed

population Combustion Emigration Glucose Mortality Natality Open

population Pesticide

Photosynthesis Immigration Carbon cycle Carrying

capacity Cellular

respiration Denitrification Density-

dependent factor

Denisty-independent factor

Fertilizer Inorganic Law of the

minimum Law of

tolerance Nitrogen cycle Nitrogen

fixation Nutrient Organic Peat Pest

Chapter 2 Vocabulary Bingo:

Nitrogen atoms are: A) Needed for cells to make

proteins and DNA B) 79% of our atmosphere (N2 gas) Changed from N2 to NO3-a form

living things can use- by some soil bacteria (Process called nitrogen fixation)

Converted back to N2 gas in a process called denitrification, done by another kind of bacteria.

The Nitrogen Cycle:

Phosphorous atoms are:A key element in things like: a) cell membranes, b) DNA, c) bonesFound in rocks, then dissolved by erosion, then algae and other plants absorb it (enters food chain).Animals use it to make bones and shells which become bedrock over a long periods of time.Once brought to surface, process of erosion starts again

The Phosphorous cycle:

Use your textbook as a guide to fill out the diagrams for the Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorous cycles.

Carbon cycle: Page 62Nitrogen cycle: Page 66Phosphorous cycle: Page 68

Nutrient Cycling Diagrams:

Food Chain Game: "Chain Reaction"

Purposes:1) Save crops from weeds, moulds, insects etc.

2) Fight infectious diseases such as malaria by killing their insect vectors (carriers)

Pesticides:

500 BCE-1900’s: Things like sulfur, arsenic, lead, mercury etc

Found to be poisonous to humans!

1900’s: -People stop using these things.

-But sometimes still found in soil/plants.

1st Generation Pesticides:

Made in labs

1930’s: DDT introduced

WW2: DDT popular to protect troops from insects in jungles

Thousands of lab-made pesticides today, used mostly for agriculture

2nd Generation Pesticides:

Bioamplification: Toxin (pesticide) levels increase in concentration

as it moves up the food chain.

Why was DDT banned? (see pg 54)

Top predators = highest concentrationDDT found in humans; banned in Canada-1971

1) Herbicides: kill weeds2) Fungicides: kill moulds and other fungi3) Insecticides: kill insects4) Bactericides: kill bacteria

4 Categories of Pesticides:

Page 51: 1, 4, 5Page 65: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5a, 6Page 69: 1, 7Page 84: 1

Review questions:

Safer because: Broken down quickly by the liver, or in soil

But: More dangerous because: 1) Applied (sprayed) more often 2) Not selective (kill/affect all kinds of organisms) 3) Risk of bioamplification

Modern Chemical Pesticides:

-This resistance is passed onto future generations (“kids”) and the resistance grows until it is essentially useless in killing the pest.

Pesticide Resistance (see pg 55):-First application doesn’t kill all pests because some are “stronger” and have some resistance.

Canada: A People’s History

“In an Uncertain World”

Scene 10: “From the Ground Up”

(about 8 minutes)

Spruce Budworm (see page 56, 57):

Use any of your notes or textbook to complete the crossword puzzle.

Hand it in to me when finished.

(Include your name!!!)

Chapter 2 Assessment:

While watching the video, try to answer the following questions:

1. Why are bees so important to humans? 2. What are the reasons for their decline in numbers?

3. What are scientists/farmers doing to try to help?

4. What kinds of issues will bees, humans, and the Earth in general face in the future?

Nature of Things Video: “To Bee or not to Bee”