Unit 1 – EcologyStandards

•S7CS3. Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring,

•S7CS5. Students will question scientific claims and arguments effectively.

•S7CS6. Students will investigate the features of the process of scientific inquiry.

Ways of science

•Scientific method

•Ways that scientists follow steps to answer questions and solve problems

Ways of science•Steps in the scientific method▫Note: steps are the same; order can change

▫Question/Problem What do you want to know?

▫Research/Background info Find out more about it.

▫Hypothesis (can be redone) Develop the possible answer If _____________, then __________.

▫Experiment/Procedures Test the possible answer.

▫Analysis/Data Examine the results.

▫Conclusion Is the answer what you thought

it would be? Explain.

Homework (8/18/11)

•Write out directions on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!

Unit 1 - Ecology(Interdependence of Life

Fall 2011Mrs. Cole7th grade science

Unit 1 – Ecology: StandardsS7L1 Students will investigate the diversity of living

organisms and how they can be compared scientifically.

• b. Classify organisms based on a six-kingdom system and a dichotomous key.

• S7L4 Students will examine the dependence of organisms on one another and their environments.

• c. Recognize that changes in environmental conditions can affect the survival of both individuals and entire species.

• e. Describe the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes (i.e., tropical rain forest, savanna, temperate, desert, taiga, tundra, and mountain) and aquatic communities (i.e., freshwater, estuaries, and marine).

Unit 1 – EcologyVocabulary

•Ecology•Biotic•Abiotic•Biome•Ecosystem•Savanna•Desert•Tundra•Taiga

•Aquatic•Tropical rain forest•Temperate

deciduous forest•Freshwater•Estuary•Marine•Swamp•Marsh

BiomesABIOTIC FACTORSBIOTIC FACTORS

•Climate•Water•Sunlight•Wind•Rocks•Think…non-living things

•Plants•Animals•Protists•Bacteria•Think…all living things

Ecology

EcosystemBiome

•a community of organisms (living things - biotic) and their abiotic (non-living) environment

•a very large area characterized by its climate and the plants and animals that live in that area.

Unit 1 – Ecology: Standards•S7L4 Students will examine the

dependence of organisms on one another and their environments.

•e. Describe the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes (i.e., tropical rain forest, savanna, temperate, desert, taiga, tundra, and mountain) and aquatic communities (i.e., freshwater, estuaries, and marine).

http://www.brainpop.com/

Terrestrial Biomes•Tundra

▫Climate Average yearly rainfall:

12 to 20 in (30 to 50 cm) Average temps

Daytime: 54ºF (12ºC) Nighttime: -26ºF (-15ºC)

▫Animals Caribou, oxen, reindeer

▫Plants Small shrubs and grasses Layer of soil beneath the surface that stays frozen (permafrost)

Terrestrial Biomes•Taiga

▫Climate Average yearly rainfall:

15 to 30 in.(38 to 76 cm) – mostly snow Average temps

Daytime: 70ºF (21ºC) Nighttime: 20ºF (-7ºC)

▫Animals Beavers, grizzly bears, wolves

▫Plants Dense forests of evergreen trees

Terrestrial Biomes•Coniferous forests

▫Climate Average yearly rainfall: 14 to 29.5 in (35 to 75 cm)

Average temps Summer: 57ºF (14ºC) Winter: 14ºF (-10ºC)

▫Animals Deer, moose, squirrels, insects

▫Plants Trees that produces seeds in cones (evergreen)

Terrestrial Biomes•Temperate deciduous forests

▫Climate Average yearly rainfall: 29.5 to 49 in (75 to 125 cm)

Average temps Summer: 82ºF (28º C) Winter: 43ºF (6ºC)

▫Animals Bears, snakes, birds, insects

▫Plants Trees with leaves that change color and shed

Terrestrial Biomes•Tropical rain forests

▫Climate Average yearly rainfall:

up to 157.5 in (400 cm) Average temps

Daytime: 93ºF (34ºC) Nighttime: 68ºF (20ºC)

▫Animals Most diverse Birds, reptiles, mammals

▫Plants Tall trees that form green roofs (canopy) Vines Low plants

Terrestrial Biomes•Savanna

▫Climate Average yearly rainfall:

up to 59 in (130 cm) Average temps

Dry season: 93ºF (34ºC) Wet season: 61ºF (16ºC)

▫Animals Lions, elephants, zebra

▫Plants Open grasslands that dry out and turn yellow during the dry season

Very few trees

Terrestrial Biomes•Desert

▫Climate Average yearly rainfall:

Less than 10 in. (25 cm) Average temps

Summer: 100ºF (38ºC) Winter: 45ºF (7ºC)

▫Animals Birds, rodents, snakes, lizard

▫Plants Plants with fleshy leaves and stems and deep roots

Waxy coating to prevent water loss

Unit 1 – Ecology: Standards•S7L4 Students will examine the

dependence of organisms on one another and their environments.

•e. Describe the characteristics of Earth’s major terrestrial biomes (i.e., tropical rain forest, savanna, temperate, desert, taiga, tundra, and mountain) and aquatic communities (i.e., freshwater, estuaries, and marine).

http://www.brainpop.com/

Aquatic EcosystemsMarine (Oceans) Freshwater• Intertidal

▫ Near shore▫ Organisms live in and out of

water• Coral reefs

▫ Warm, shallow area▫ Coral, sponges, sea stars

• Sargasso sea▫ Middle of the Atlantic ocean▫ Floating algae

• Polar ice▫ Around the Arctic and

Antarctica• Estuary

▫ where salt meets fresh▫ mixture

• Stream and river▫ Think ‘fast moving’

water▫ Rivers are simply

strong, wide streams• Pond and lake

▫ Enclosed body of water▫ Plants grow near the

shoreline• Wetlands (area of land

partially under water)▫ Marsh

Grasses, reeds, wild rice▫ Swamp

Trees and vines

Aquatic EcosystemsMarine (Oceans)•Intertidal

▫Location: Found near the shore▫Type of water: Salt▫Movement of water: crashing waves; constant movement

▫Plant life: plankton▫Animal life: worms, clams, crabs

Aquatic EcosystemsMarine (Oceans)•Coral Reefs

▫Location: warm▫Type of water: Salt▫Movement of water: steady, subtle▫Plant life: algae▫Animal life: corals, sponges, sea stars

Aquatic EcosystemsMarine (Oceans)•Sargasso Sea

▫Location: middle of the Atlantic Ocean

▫Type of water: Salt▫Movement of water: constant, subtle

▫Plant life: algae called sargassums

Aquatic EcosystemsMarine (Oceans)•Polar Ice (remember: ice is a form of water)▫Location: around the Arctic and Antartica

▫Type of water: Salt▫Movement of water: slow moving (lots of ice)

▫Plant life: plankton▫Animal life: polar bears, penguins

Aquatic EcosystemsEstuary

▫Location: where fresh water spills into the ocean

▫Type of water: mixture of fresh and salt

▫Movement of water: swirling, mixing▫Plant life: plankton, grasses▫Animal life: large variety that can survive in changing concentrations of salt

Aquatic EcosystemsFreshwater•Stream and River

▫Location: runs through land, into other streams/rivers, out to the ocean

▫Type of water: Fresh▫Movement of water: fast moving▫Plant life: large variety of plants, moss, algae

▫Animal life: fish, clams, snails, frogs, etc.

Aquatic EcosystemsFreshwater•Ponds and Lakes

▫Location: surrounded by land▫Type of water: Fresh▫Movement of water: slower than rivers and streams

▫Plant life: cattails, rushes, algae▫Animal life: frogs, turtles, fish, snakes, clams

Aquatic EcosystemsFreshwater•Wetland (marshes and swamps)

▫Location: surrounded by land▫Type of water: Fresh▫Movement of water: slow moving or stagnant

▫Plant life: grasses, reeds, wild rice, vines▫Animal life: fishes, snakes, birds, frogs, turtles

▫DIFFERENCE: swamps have trees; marshes don’t have trees.

Sum it all up!Terrestrial Biomes Aquatic

Ecosystems•Tundra•Taiga•Coniferous forest•Temperate deciduous forest

•Tropical rain forest

•Savanna•Desert

•Marine (Ocean)

•Estuary•Freshwater

Unit 1 – Ecology: Standards•S7L4 Students will examine the

dependence of organisms on one another and their environments. ▫c. Recognize that changes in environmental

conditions can affect the survival of both individuals and entire species.

Environmental FactorsPollution•Garbage

▫Medical waste▫Lead paint▫Hazardous wastes

These can catch fire, eat through metals or make people sick.

Environmental FactorsPollution•Chemicals

▫CFCs (chlorofluorocarbon ) Destroys the ozone layer Used in aerosols and plastics

▫PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl) Poisonous and can cause cancer Used in appliances and paints

Environmental FactorsPollution•High-Powered Wastes

▫Radioactive▫Nuclear plants

•Gases▫Carbon dioxide (acts like a greenhouse)

•Noise▫Constructions zones▫Can impact ability to hear

Environmental FactorsResource Depletion•Renewable

▫Can be replaced at the same rate it is used

▫Solar, wind energy, water•Nonrenewable

▫Cannot be replaced OR can only be replaced over thousands of years.

▫Minerals, fossil fuels (oil and coal)

Environmental FactorsOverpopulation•Number of organisms is too large for the available resources▫Human population (too many people in one area)

▫Animal population (producers versus consumers)

Human interactionHow can we help?•Plant more trees and other vegetation

▫Plants provide oxygen!•Recycle, recycle, recycle•Limit use of poisonous pesticides

▫Use natural pesticides instead•Stop destruction of habitats

▫Takes away food source and living spaces

•Stop overhunting/overfishing

Animal adaptationTemperature•Heat

▫Large surface area to release heat (large ears on jack rabbit)

▫Light colors to absorb heat (tan or beige coats)

▫Sleeping patterns (sleep in burrows during day; hunt at night)

Animal adaptationTemperature•Cold

▫Extra layer of fat (polar bears, seals)

▫Hibernation (bears)▫Thick coat of fur (camel: remember it DOES get cold in the desert)

▫Huddling together (to conserve heat)

Animal adaptationPrecipitation•Waxy leaves (to conserve water)

•Hump/storage portion of body (camel/Gila monster)

•Large root system