Ecology SECTION ONE (M-Th) (SC-2a)

• 8/11: Review syllabus, overview of course, set norms, inquiry on previous knowledge
• 8/15: Lecture and notes on the definition of ecology, read "What is Ecology?" handout, "How would you study an ecosystem?" activity (DUE Thurs. 8/18 in class), plus What is Ecology Homework (DUE Thurs. 8/18 in class):

1. How was the field of ecology different from the traditional methods of studying nature in the mid 19th century?
2. How are ecology and environmentalism related?
3. What caused people to become concerned about the environment? Also, list and describe the 2 different views on conservation of the environment.
4. What is the biosphere? Also, describe how energy flows through the biosphere.

• 8/18: School Transect Activity, begin lecture and reading on "Levels of Organization", Home Transect Homework (DUE Mon. 8/22 in class):

Conduct a transect of your home and record the names of the animals and plants that you find in your ecosystem. You don't have to know specific names, but at least use descriptions for things that you don't know.

• 8/22: "Levels of Organization" continued, Food Chain Activity, Home Transect Homework II (DUE Thurs. 8/25 in class):

Label the organisms on your transect list as either producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers, detritivores, or decomposers. If you don't know what something eats, look it up!

Here's a great website that explains some basic principles of ecology, with a food chain diagram:

http://www.scienceclarified.com/Di-El/Ecosystem.html

A couple cool ecosystem pyramid diagrams:

http://www.scienceparameter.com/museum/history/Tool-Timeline-images/16ecology_web.jpg

This is a GREAT interactive website on the phylogenetic tree of life:

http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html

• 8/25: Finish "Levels of Organization", begin Group Pyramid Project, Levels of Organization Homework (DUE Mon. 8/29):

1. What are the 2 main forms of energy that power living systems?
2. Describe the different processes that organisms use to extract the forms of energy listed above
3. Briefly describe the flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem
4. What's the difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph? Which one are we (humans), and why?
5. Describe the difference between a food chain and a food web
6. What proportion of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next in an ecosystem? How does this affect the number of organisms that can be supported at each higher level?

• 8/29: Group Pyramid Project continued

This website is AWESOME and should be used throughout the semester whenever you need any resources-you can refer to this if you need some good pictures to draw from for your posters:

http://wc.pima.edu/Bfiero/tucsonecology/index.htm

• 9/1: Group Pyramid Project continued
• 9/5: NO SCHOOL- LABOR DAY
• 9/8: Finish Pyramid Project
  
• 9/12: Lecture and reading on "What Shapes an Ecosystem?"

Here's a video from the Discovery Channel about Abiotic and Biotic factors:
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/30707-assignment-discovery-abiotic-and-biotic-factors-video.htm
And another good one about abiotic and biotic factors, and how they shape an ecosystem:
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/10589-environment-of-organisms-abiotic-and-biotic-factors-video.htm

Here's a video about the concept of the niche, using an African Savannah ecosystem as an example:
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/23670-animals-of-the-african-plains-predators-and-scavengers-video.htm
Here's a good, simple explanation of the niche:
http://www.purchon.com/ecology/niche.htm

9/15: Unit Quiz One and Binder Check, finish "What Shapes an Ecosystem?", What Shapes an Ecosystem Homework (DUE Mon. 9/19):

1. Describe the difference between a biotic and an abiotic factor, and give an example of each.

2. In your own words, define the term “niche”, and describe a real-life example from an organism of your choice

3. Describe the differences between a generalist and a specialist, and give an example of each

4. What does the “competitive exclusion principle” state? Why is it important in an ecosystem?

5. Describe each of the three types of symbiosis, and give an example of each

• 9/19: Observing Symbiosis Activity
• 9/22: Watch "Planet Earth: Pole to Pole" with film questions
• 9/26: Lecture and reading on "The Concept of the Niche in Detail", Concept of the Niche Homework (DUE Thurs. 9/29):

1. Describe why direct competition between two species for the same niche will result in a winner and a loser

2. Define the term "guilds", and describe how guilds of species with similar niches avoid violating Gause's Law

3. What are ecological equivalents, and how do they relate to convergent evolution?

4. Describe how coevolution influences an organism's niche. Also, explain how this is a form of symbiosis

5. What role does extinction play in shaping the available niches in an ecosystem?

• 9/29: Project Area Mapping Activity, Project Topic Homework I (DUE Mon. 10/3):

1. Write down what it is that you want to study for your project

2. Describe how you plan to study it

• 10/3: Watch "Life in the Undergrowth: Intimate Relations" with film questions
• 10/6: Observing Ecology Hike
• 10/10: Midterm Exam and Binder Check, discuss projects
• 10/13: No Class- All-School Event
• 10/17: Lecture and reading on "How Populations Grow", Project Proposal Homework (DUE Thurs. 10/20):

1. Describe exactly what you plan to study. What is it that you want to find out?
2. Describe specifically where your study area will be, and why you chose that particular place.
3. Write a detailed plan on how you will collect your data.
4. Describe specifically what data it is that you plan to collect.

5. What variables (things out of your control) may affect the accuracy or reliability of your data? How do you plan to overcome these challenges?

• 10/20: Lecture and reading on "Case Study in Population Growth: Rabbits in Australia", Rabbits in Australia Assignment, begin lecture and reading on "Limits to Growth"
• 10/24: Finish "Limits to Growth", Limits to Growth in-class questions (DUE Thurs. 10/27 if not completed in class- the 4 questions are on the back of your "Limits to Growth" handouts), discuss projects
• 10/27: Begin Data Collection
• 10/31: Data Collection Day
• 11/3: Data Collection Day
• 11/7: Partial Data Collection, begin watching "Living Together", with film questions
• 11/10: Data Collection Day
• 11/14: Finish "Living Together", Data Collection
• 11/17: Unit Quiz Two, Binder Check, and Data Check One, Predator/Prey Graph Activity (DUE Mon. 11/21 if not completed in class)
• 11/21: Lecture and reading on "Fire Ecology", Fire Ecology Homework (DUE Mon. 11/28):

1. Describe ecological succession in your own words2. What essential role does fire play in keeping fire-dependent ecosystems healthy?

3. How did gophers help the ecosystem recover after the Mount St. Helens eruption?

4. How do organisms colonize new island environments?

5. What's the difference between succession and colonization?

• 11/24: No School- Thanksgiving Break
• 11/28: Receive "Final Project Guidelines", Data Collection Day
• 12/1: Data Collection, lecture and reading on "Biodiversity"
• 12/5: Watch "Biodiversity" with film questions, lecture and reading on "Biodiversity" continued
• 12/8: Finish "Biodiversity"
• 12/9: Final Projects DUE
• 12/12: Final Exam and Binder Check, Class Evaluations
• 12/15: No Class- TBA