Introduction:
In this unit, students will be introduced to the
relationships and interactions of living things with one another and their
environment. Students will focus on gaining a general understanding of ecology,
biomes and ecosystems. The movement of
energy through the biosphere will be also be investigated.
The discussion of how populations
grow and how communities grow, develop and interact is key to understanding why
ecological interactions are important in peoples lives. The different
mechanisms for human population growth and this effect on the environment will
be discussed. For example, How is overpopulation problematic? What types of
pollution do humans create and how does it effect the biosphere?
Case studies and / or examples of
ecological problems and relationships will be introduced and investigated
through this unit. Students will have the opportunity to further investigate
specific endangered species and to see how the ecological principles in this
unit are evident in their “real” lives.
Students will be encouraged to
identify ways that the environment can be cleaned up and protected from future
harm. The study of the limits of natural resources and how the stress on these
resources will effect our future will be investigated.
Ecology
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Community
Diversity
Niche
Succession
Climax
community
Biomass
Biome
Tundra
Taiga
Temperate
deciduous
Forest
Grassland
Tropical
rain forest
Desert
Freshwater
biome
Marine
biome
Plankton
Photic
zone
Estuary
Producer
Consumer
Decomposer
Carnivore
Herbivore
Ecological
pyramid
Biogeochemical
cycle
Abiotic
Biotic
Water
cycle
Nitrogen
cycle
Nitrogen
fixation
Denitrification
Carbon
cycle
Oxygen
cycle
Limiting
factor
Food
chain
Food
web
Population
Exponential
growth
( J curve )
Logistic
growth ( S curve )
Steady
state
Carrying
capacity
Density
dependant factor
Density
independent factor
Competition
Predator
Symbiosis
Commensalism
Mutualism
Parasitism
Biodegradable
Biological
magnification
Acid
rain
Carcinogen
Fossil
fuel
CFC’s
Greenhouse
effect
Ozone
layer
Thermal
pollution
Deforestation
Endangered
species
Recycling