Unit Plan: Ecology

Q1 2011 Crichton
Learning Goal LG 1.a Illustrate the influences of limiting factors and carrying capacity on population growth and reproduction. LG 1.b Analyze interactions within a community and the impact of the ecological niche. Unit Timing Lesson Objectives LO 1.a.i. I will describe two types of population growth and the scenarios in which each are possible. LO 1.a.ii. I will make three graphs of population sizes over time, and interpret those graphs. LO 1.a.iii. I will compare the costs and benefits of asexual reproduction versus sexual reproduction. Quiz #1 LO 1.b.i. I will create a diagram depicting the ecological niches of two different organisms. LO 1.b.ii. I will write two MEAL paragraphs describing competition between organisms with overlapping niches. LO 1.b.iii. I will categorize relationships between organisms as examples of mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, or predation. Quiz #2 LO1.c.i. I will create two food chains and analyze two effects of disrupting each food chain. LO1.c.ii. I will classify organisms as heterotrophic/autotrophic and producer/consumer by interpreting a food chain. LO1.c.iii. I will predict what I will find inside an owl pellet. I will dissect one owl pellet. LO1.c.iv. I will create one food chain based on my owl pellet dissection. LO1.c.v. I will create one food web from five food chains and analyze the effects of a change in population of one organism in the web. LO1.c.vi. I will make a pyramid diagram to depict loss of energy and biomass. Quiz #3 LO1.d.i. I will identify four abiotic factorswater, sunlight, oxygen, and substratumand adaptations that suit organisms to these factors. LO1.d.ii. I will create one model of the carbon cycle. LO1.d.iii. I will create one model of the nitrogen cycle. # of days 3

LG 1.c Analyze the flow of matter and energy through the trophic levels of a food web.

LG 1.d Analyze the flow of matter through the carbon and nitrogen cycles, and the influence of abiotic factors in the ecosystem. LG 1.e Assess and compare physical and behavioral adaptations affecting survival and reproductive success of organisms in specific environments and biomes. LG 1.f Analyze the

Quiz #4 LO1.e.i. I will describe the geographic locations, climates, flora and fauna of the seven major biomes. LO1.e.ii. I will describe how the anatomical structures of three organisms allow them to thrive in their respective biomes. LO1.e.iii. I will conduct research for my biome project.

Quiz #5 LO1.f.i. I will illustrate and caption the process of ecological succession,

changes over time that occurs in all ecosystems.

LG 1.g Assess human impact on ecosystems and biodiversity resulting from climate change, human activity, resource use, and nonnative species.

from pioneer organism to climax community. LO1.f.ii. I will analyze data in order to predict the climax community of a particular ecosystem. Quiz #6 LO1.g.i. I will analyze two impacts of human disruption of an ecosystem and four effects of the introduction of a non-native species into an ecosystem. LO1.g.ii. I will write one memo outlining three effects of climate change and natural disasters on an ecosystem. LO1.g.iii. I will know two ways to test water quality and one sign of a decrease in water quality. LO1.g.iv. I will conduct an experiment to determine the levels of water pollution in the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. Quiz #7

Review Unit Assessment Total

1 1 26 days