TCSS Biology Unit 5 – Ecology Information

Milestones Domain/Weight: Ecology 25%

Georgia Performance Standards: SB4. Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of energy and matter within their ecosystems. A. Investigate the relationships among organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes. B. Explain the flow of matter and energy through ecosystems by arranging components of a food chain according to energy flow, comparing the quantity of energy in the steps of an energy pyramid, explaining the need for cycling of major nutrients (C, O, H, N, P). C. Relate environmental conditions to successional changes in ecosystems. D. Assess and explain human activities that influence and modify the environment such as global warming, population growth, pesticide use, and water and power consumption. E. Relate plant adaptations, including tropisms, to the ability to survive stressful environmental conditions. F. Relate animal adaptations, including behaviors, to the ability to survive stressful environmental conditions.

Purpose/Goal(s): Students should be able to: Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of energy and matter within their ecosystems.  Students will investigate the interdependence of organisms within an ecosystem and the connections between ecosystems on Earth.  Students will explain flow of matter and energy through ecosystems.  Students will comprehend successional changes in an ecosystem after a disturbance.  Students will analyze the effects humans have had on their environment and possible solutions to human-made environmental problems.  Students will explain how animal and plant adaptations help species to survive in a changing environment.

Content Map: Unit 5 – Ecology Content Map

Prerequisites: Unit 5 – Ecology Middle School Standards

Unit Length: Approximately 25 days

Click on the links below for resources by Concept:

Concept 1: Levels of Organization Concept 4: Human Impact

Concept 2: Flow of Matter & Energy Concept 5: Plant Adaptations

Concept 3: Succession Concept 6: Animal Adaptations

TCSS Biology Ecology Unit Information

Concept, Essential Question(s), and Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment Standard(s) Concept 1: Levels of Essential* Activators/Summarizers: Concept 1: Sample Organization & Biomes Introduction to Ecology (time 4:46) - Learn about the biosphere, Assessment Items Community Interactions Communities ecosystems, communities, populations, organisms, habitats, niches, Ecosystems generalists, specialists, biotic and abiotic factors in this video. EQ1: How is the living Organisms Video Clip - Levels of Organization & Relationships (2.1) - world organized? Populations Introductory overview of organizational levels of the biosphere Video Clip - Freshwater Biomes (time 1:55) - Overview of key EQ2: How do organisms Supplemental** characteristics of freshwater biomes. relate to one another in Abiotic Factors Video Clip - Marine Biomes (time 2:46) - Overview of key populations, Biotic Factors characteristics of marine biomes communities, Habitat Symbiosis Video (time 5:16) - Short video covers symbiotic ecosystems, and biomes? Niche relationships. Biosphere SB4A: Investigate the Predator Notes: relationships among Prey Levels of Organization & Relationships Notes (2.1) - Screen organisms, populations, Commensalism Copy - PPT for lecture covering organizational levels of the communities, Parasitism biosphere as well as types of relationships within a community. ecosystems, and biomes. Mutualism Levels of Organization & Relationships Notes (2.1) - Student Competition Copy - for student handouts. Includes blanks for fill-in that Symbiosis correspond to the bold-faced words in the Screen Copy. Terrestrial Biomes Terrestrial Biome Notes (3.2) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture Aquatic Biomes covering key characteristics of major terrestrial biomes. Terrestrial Biome Notes (3.2) - Student Copy - for student *Essential vocabulary handouts. Includes blanks for fill-in that correspond to the bold-faced listed in the GPS words in the Screen Copy. Standards Aquatic Ecosystems & Biomes Notes (3.3) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture covering key characteristics of aquatic & transitional **Supplemental ecosystems. vocabulary listed in the Aquatic Ecosystems & Biomes Notes (3.3) - Student Copy - for state frameworks and/or student handouts. Includes blanks for fill-in that correspond to the other state document bold-faced words in the Screen Copy.

Practice/Worksheets: TCSS Biology Ecology Unit Information

Ecology Review Worksheet #1 - Review of levels of organization, symbiosis, habitat/niche, and predator/ prey relationships. Levels of Organization & Relationships Student Practice (2.1) - Comprehension questions/activities for students to answer following lecture. Symbiosis Analysis Worksheet - Students analyze real life scenarios and determine whether they are mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. Deer: Predation or Starvation - Predation activity that includes graphing and comprehension questions. Aquatic Ecosystems & Biomes Student Practice (3.3) - Questions/ Exercises for comprehension following lecture

TCSS Biology Ecology Unit Information

Concept, Essential Question(s), and Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment Standard(s) Concept 2: Flow of Essential* Activators/Summarizers: Concept 2: Sample Energy & Matter Ecosystems Flow of Matter Summarizer (2.3) - Graphic Organizer (chart) for Assessment Items Energy students to describe the importance and the short/long-term cycles of EQ1: What is the Energy Flow water, carbon/oxygen, nitrogen, & phosphorus. difference between a Energy Pyramid Energy Transfer in Trophic Levels (time 2:41) - Learn about food chain and a food Food Chain producers, consumers (herbivores, carnivores and omnivores), web? Matter decomposers (detritivores), energy transfer and energy loss, and food Nutrients chains and food webs in this video. EQ2: How does energy flow through an Supplemental** Notes: ecosystem? Food Web Flow of Energy Notes (2.2) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture Ecological Pyramids covering acquisition & transfer of energy through the biosphere EQ3: How does the Producer Flow of Energy Notes (2.2) - Student Copy - for student handouts. amount of available Consumer Includes blanks for fill-in that correspond to the bold-faced words in energy change from one Autotroph the Screen Copy. trophic level to the next? Heterotroph Flow of Matter Notes (2.3) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture Carnivore covering acquisition & transfer of Water, Carbon/Oxygen, Nitrogen, EQ4: How are major Omnivore & Phosphorus through the biosphere. nutrients cycled through Herbivore Flow of Matter Notes (2.3) - Student Copy - for student handouts. ecosystems? Decomposer Includes blanks for fill-in that correspond to the bold-faced words in Detrivore the Screen Copy. EQ5: How does each Carbon/Oxygen Cycle nutrient cycle contribute Water Cycle Practice/Worksheets: to the success of an Nitrogen Cycle Flow of Energy Student Practice (2.2) - Questions/Exercises for ecosystem? Phosphorus comprehension following lecture. Trophic Level Ecology Review Worksheet # 2 - Review worksheet that address SB4B: Explain the flow the following: trophic levels, food chains, food webs, and energy of matter and energy *Essential vocabulary pyramids. through ecosystems by listed in the GPS Food Chain and Food Web Packet - Student remediation packet arranging components of Standards that contains reading comprehension, practice activities and mini a food chain according to quizzes. energy flow, comparing **Supplemental Food Chain Worksheet - Student practice with trophic levels, food the quantity of energy in vocabulary listed in the chain, energy transfer, and food webs. TCSS Biology Ecology Unit Information the steps of an energy state frameworks and/or Energy Pyramid Virtual Lab w/Questions and Data Tables - pyramid, explaining the other state document Virtual interactive lab with practice and comprehension questions for need for cycling of major energy pyramid and pyramid of numbers. nutrients (C, O, H, N, P). Energy Pyramid Lab w/ pinto beans - Energy pyramid simulation using butcher paper, markers and pinto beans.The lab also includes comprehension questions. Building an Energy Pyramid Lab - Energy pyramid lab where students have to simulate the transfer of energy using water, cups and beakers. The lab also includes comprehension questions Ecological Pyramid 3D Foldable - Student made model of ecological pyramid concepts. Flow of Matter Student Practice (2.3) - Questions/Exercises for comprehension following lecture. Nutrient Cycle Worksheets - Comprehension questions and drawings for each of the four major nutrient cycles.

TCSS Biology Ecology Unit Information

Concept, Essential Question(s), and Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment Standard(s) Concept 3: Ecological Essential* Activators/Summarizers: Concept 3: Sample Succession Environmental Condition Succession Reading and Comprehension Questions - Reading Assessment Items Succession activity that introduces the different types of ecological succession. EQ1: What is the Ecosystem Ecological Succession Video (time 1:43) - Short video clip that difference between gives an overview of both primary and secondary succession. primary and secondary Supplemental** Ecological Succession Interactive Activity - Mini Web Activity succession? Climax Community that can be used as an activator or a summarizer. It includes 2 mini Pioneer Species (Lichen) quizzes at the end. *Use the chromebooks to complete this activity to EQ2: How are organisms Primary Succession cut down on transition time. impacted when an Secondary Succession Pond Succession Video (time 4:50) - Good to embed in succession ecosystem is destroyed? PPT before Pond Succession Slide *Essential vocabulary SB4C: Relate listed in the GPS Notes: environmental conditions Standards Ecological Succession Notes (3.1) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture to successional changes covering limiting factors, range of tolerance, primary succession, in ecosystems. **Supplemental secondary succession, & pond succession. vocabulary listed in the Ecological Succession Notes (3.1) - Student Copy - for student state frameworks and/or handouts. Includes blanks for fill-in that correspond to the bold-faced other state document words in the Screen Copy.

Practice/Worksheets: Ecological Succession Scenarios - Comprehension questions and scenarios about the different types of ecological succession. Ecological Succession Student Practice (3.1) - Questions/Exercises for comprehension following lecture. Ecological Succession Worksheet - Questions about the different types of ecological succession. Succession - The Game (Board Master) (Instructions/Cards/Charts Master) (Student Accountability Sheet) - Teacher-created board game that helps solidify student understanding of how succession works & why it takes so long.

TCSS Biology Ecology Unit Information

Concept, Essential Question(s), and Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment Standard(s) Concept 4: Population Essential* Activators/Summarizers: Concept 4: Sample Dynamics & Human Global Warming Human Impact Video (time 3:28) - Short video overview of the Assessment Items Influence Population Growth history of human impact on the environment. Pesticides What is Biodiversity? (time 2:42) - Short video clip that addresses EQ1: What factors affect “what is biodiversity?” population growth and Supplemental** Natural Resources (time 3:28)- Short video clip about stability? Population Density nonrenewable and renewable resources. Population Dispersion EQ2: How do humans Limiting Factors Notes: influence and modify the Exponential Growth Population Dynamics Notes (4.1) - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture environment? Logistic Growth covering population characteristics, limiting factors, & growth rates. Immigration Population Dynamics Notes (4.1) - Student Copy - for student SB4D: Assess and Emigration handouts. Includes blanks for fill-in that correspond to the bold- explain human activities Carrying Capacity faced words in the Screen Copy. that influence and Age Structure Human Population - Growth & Age Structure Notes (4.2) - modify the environment Human Impact Screen Copy - PPT for lecture covering human population trends such as global warming, Pollution and varying age structures from one country to the next. population growth, Nonrenewable/Renewable Human Population - Growth & Age Structure Notes (4.2) - pesticide use, and water resource Student Copy - for student handouts. Includes blanks for fill-in that and power consumption. Invasive Species correspond to the bold-faced words in the Screen Copy. Biomagnification Conserving Biodiversity Notes (5.3) - Screen Copy - PPT for Biodiversity lecture covering threats to biodiversity and efforts to remediate & Deforestation conserve. Conserving Biodiversity Notes (5.3) - Student Copy - for student *Essential vocabulary handouts. Includes blanks for fill-in that correspond to the bold- listed in the GPS faced words in the Screen Copy. Standards Practice/Worksheets: **Supplemental Population Dynamics Student Practice (4.1) - vocabulary listed in the Questions/Exercises for comprehension following lecture state frameworks and/or Population Ecology Graph Worksheet - Graphs and diagrams other state document with comprehension questions that address population growth, types TCSS Biology Ecology Unit Information

of growth, and predator- prey interactions in regards to population growth. Human Population - Growth & Age Structure Student Practice (4.2) - Questions/Exercises for student comprehension following lecture Human Population Growth - Students will create a graph of human population growth and use it to predict future growth and identify factors that affect population growth. Conserving Biodiversity Student Practice (5.3) - Questions/ Exercises for student comprehension following lecture. Bean Biodiversity Lab - Activity using different types of beans to represent the different populations in a community. Students calculate the amount of biodiversity there is one community. Threats to Biodiversity Activity - Article reading and comprehension about human threats to biodiversity. Mix and Match: Human Impact - Group activity that sparks conversation and discussion about how humans are affecting natural resources.

TCSS Biology Ecology Unit Information

Concept, Essential Question(s), and Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment Standard(s) Concept 5: Plant Essential* Activators/Summarizers: Concept 5: Sample Adaptations Plant Adaptations Plant Structures and Adaptations (time 8:40) - Video about plant Assessment Items Tropisms structures and how they help them to adapt their environment. EQ1: Why is plant adaptation necessary for Supplemental** Notes: the success of an Chemotropism Plant Adaptation Notes - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture covering ecosystem? Geotropism basic plant structures/adaptations Phototropism Plant Adaptation Notes - Student Copy - for student handouts. EQ2: What are some Thigmotropism Includes blanks for fill-in that correspond to the bold-faced words in examples of plant Xylem the Screen Copy. adaptations? Phloem Flower Practice/Worksheets: SB4E: Relate plant Cone Plant Adaptation Student Practice - Questions/Exercises for adaptations, including Seed Dispersal student comprehension following lecture. tropisms, to the ability to Dormancy Plant Adaptations Worksheet - Student practice with plant survive stressful Hormones adaptations that are related to plant structure. environmental Plant Adaptation Comprehension Worksheets - Five different conditions. *Essential vocabulary worksheets with plant adaptations vocabulary practice, reading listed in the GPS comprehension questions, a critical thinking short answer question Standards and true/false question. All About Tropism - Student practice worksheet that address plant **Supplemental tropisms. vocabulary listed in the Plant Response/Growth - Comprehension worksheet that addresses state frameworks and/or the different types of plant adaptations. (*Suggestion: There are other state document several different worksheets in the packet. Pick and choose the parts you would like to use and create your own worksheet. The document can be converted to a word document for edits.)

TCSS Biology Ecology Unit Information

Concept, Essential Question(s), and Vocabulary Resources [Back to Top] Assessment Standard(s) Concept 6: Animal Essential* Activators/Summarizers: Concept 6: Sample Adaptations Animal Adaptations Adaptations Video (time3:59) - Short video clip about behavioral Assessment Items Behaviors and structural adaptations. EQ1: Why is animal adaptation necessary for Supplemental** Notes: the success of an Animal Behaviors Animal Adaptation Notes - Screen Copy - PPT for lecture ecosystem? Camouflage covering basic animal structures/behaviors/adaptations Chemical Defenses Animal Adaptation Notes - Student Copy - for student handouts. EQ2: What are some Mechanical Defenses Includes blanks for fill-in that correspond to the bold-faced words in examples of animal Migration the Screen Copy. adaptations? Mimicry Survival Behaviors Practice/Worksheets: SB4F: Relate animal Animal Adaptation Student Practice - Questions/Exercises for adaptations, including *Essential vocabulary student comprehension following lecture behaviors, to the ability listed in the GPS Animal Adaptation Worksheet - Student worksheet that requires to survive stressful Standards students to identify the function of certain adaptations. environmental Animal Adaptation Packet - Several different worksheets and conditions. **Supplemental activities that teachers can use to pull resources for all animal vocabulary listed in the adaptations. state frameworks and/or other state document