The Ecology and Ecosystems unit notes blend in Evolutionary adaptations and Evidence for Evolution along with standard E&E topics. The notes has examples of key content areas. Originally designed for Junior High and High School students, we use these for 7-8th grade students and warm ups for High School students. Includes basic concepts, food chain, webs, energy pyramids, matter cyclers, predator-prey, trophic levels; along with Ecosystem types, carrying capacity as well as Rules of the Environment.
3. Unit E: Ecology - Learning Goals Name:
Period:
Instructions: Use the performance expectations sheet to help you assess your current level of understanding (1-4) for each learning goal once an activity is done.
Unit E – Ecology Learning
Goals
Pre-assessment
Activity72:Miracle
Fish
Act80WormRanching
Pt.1-WormResearch
FoodWebs,Matter
Cyclers,&Energy
Pyramids
Activity78:Coughing
UpClues
Activity77:Ups&
Downs
FieldStudy
Act80WormRanching
Pt.2
Activity73:
EndangeredSpecies
Presentation
Post-assessment
Living & Non Living Factors in an Ecosystem
1. I am able to predict what may happen to an
ecosystem if one or more:
a. abiotic factors change or
b. biotic factors are added or removed
from the ecosystem.
Flows of Matter & Energy within an Ecosystem
2. I can analyze the flow of matter and energy in
a local ecosystem with these three models:
a. Energy pyramid
b. Food web
c. Matter cycler.
Examining Environmental Issues
3. I can thoroughly investigate environmental
issues and properly evaluate the trade offs
involved in solving each issue.
4. Unit D: Genetics
Performance Expectations
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Learning Goal #1:
I am able to predict what may
happen to an ecosystem if
one or more:
a. abiotic factors change or
b. biotic factors are added or
removed from the ecosystem.
I can accurately define:
Abiotic factors,
Biotic factors,
Carrying capacity
Carnivore
Competition
Decomposer
Ecosystem
Herbivore
Mutualism
Omnivore
Populations
Predator-prey relationship
I can give examples of:
3 local ecosystems
5 biotic & abiotic factors in
a local ecosystem.
3 specific abiotic or biotic
factors that a particular
organism depends upon.
I can explain:
The varied strategies, or niches,
organisms use to compete for the
limited resources in their habitat.
How organisms and populations
are affected by a change in the
amount of resources in an
ecosystem.
I can describe to others, using examples,
how:
Ecosystems are constantly
changing.
Changes in biotic or abiotic
factors increase or decrease
populations.
The biodiversity of an ecosystem
can be used to tell the health of
the ecosystem.
Learning Goal #2:
I can analyze the flow of matter
and energy in a local ecosystem
with these three models:
a. Energy pyramid
b. Food web
c. Matter cycler.
I can accurately define:
Consumer
Energy
Energy pyramid
Food chain
Food web
Habitat
Matter cycling
Niche
Producer
I can explain with examples:
How producers transform
light energy into usable
chemical energy by
photosynthesis.
I can create a:
Local food chain showing
how energy & matter cycles
through different organisms
in the environment.
Given data, I can show & analyze the flow of
matter and energy in a local ecosystem using
A matter cycler
an energy pyramid and
a food web
I can explain to others how:
Matter and energy can transfer
between both living & nonliving
things at any niche.
The atoms that make up
organisms are cycled between
living & nonliving parts of the
ecosystem.
Learning Goal #3:
I can thoroughly investigate
environmental issues and properly
evaluate the trade offs involved in
solving each issue.
I can accurately define:
Biodiversity,
Ecosystem services
Endangered species
Threatened species
Species of concern
Trade-off
I can give local examples of:
Endangered species
Threatened species
Species of concern
I can give local examples of:
Ecosystem services that
humans rely on.
I can investigate with evidence, why a local
species is endangered, threatened or of
concern by:
Defining the problem
Understanding the natural history
Researching causes
Evaluating recovery issues &
explaining the trade offs of using
different solutions.
I can explain to others, with examples,
how changes in biodiversity can affect the:
Resources available to humans & other
living things
Ecosystem services required to maintain a
healthy ecosystem.