Ecology Grade

10Science

1.5    Ecology pg 22 The study of ECOLOGY focuses on the following:

a)      examining ORGANISMS within their natural setting

b)      how organisms interact with their environment

c) how factors in the environment affect an organism’s growth, feeding habits and reproduction

Nonliving factors that can affect an organism are called ABIOTIC FACTORS, such as:

Amount of sunlight Temperature changesStrength and direction of wind

Living factors, like the roles and presence of other living organism that can affect an individual are called BIOTIC FACTORS, such as:

predatorspreycompetitors for food and reproduction

Organisms do not live in isolation. Organisms will:

-         group themselves with others of their own kind forming a POPULATION

-         populations of different organisms will interact and form a COMMUNITY

-         communities of different organisms will also interact with all the biotic and abiotic factors in an area creating an ECOSYSTEM.

Ecosystems rarely have sharp boundaries and organisms can move back and forth between ecosystems. The area between ecosystems is called an ECOTONE. This is the area where the greatest BIODIVERSITY can be found. (See figure 2 pg 22)

Assignment : 1) Read pg 22-232) Do Blackline Master 1.53) On the back of 1.5 do a Venn Diagram of figure 2 pg 22 in your text

-lake ecosystem-field ecosystem-shore ecotonelist all organisms that may be found in each of the

above, in the appropriate place, on the venn diagram4) Do Challenge page 23

3.1 Canadian Biomes pg 88 Ecosystems can be grouped into larger categories called BIOMES. A biome is a collection of ecosystems that are similar or related to each other, usually in the type of plants they support. Canada has 4 major biomes.

1)      the tundra2)      the boreal forest3)      the temperate deciduous forest4)      the grasslands

Tundra Boreal or Taiga

Temperate Deciduous Forest Grasslands

  Tundra Boreal Deciduous Grassland

Abiotic Factors       

Temperature

very low most of the year

warmer than tundra

higher temperatures than boreal

higher temperatures than boreal

Weather

short growing season

changeable longer growing season than boreal

longer growing season than boreal

Soil Type

Permafrost layer beneath soil , poor quality

Some water and acidic

fertile Rich and fertile

Precipitation

low 40 cm /year or more

Up to 100 cm/ year

25-75 cm/year

Biotic factors

(communities)       

Plant life*

Rapid flowering plants, lichens and moss

Coniferous trees(evergreens)

Deciduous trees (oak, maple, poplar), shrubs and ferns

Fescue grasses

Animal lifecaribou seed eating

birdssquirrels grasshoppers

  ptarmigan squirrels insects bison

  lemmings snowshoe hares

mice mice

  arctic fox deer deer snakes

  wolverines pine martens and wolves

black bear, weasels, wolves

hawks, wolves

Tundra Boreal Deciduous Grassland

Assignment:1)      Read pgs 88-922)      Do Understanding Concepts pg 933) Do Work the Web pg 93

1.5    Investigation “ A Schoolyard Ecosystem” pg 24 

Complete this Activity

Question -How do abiotic factors affect the distribution of weeds

1.2 Canada’s Endangered Species pg 14 

In Canada there are more than 250 species of plants and animals at various degrees of risk.

Classification System for At –Risk Species 

Classification Description Example

EXTINCT A species that is no longer anywhere

Blue walleyePassenger Pigeon

ENDANGEREDA species that is close to extinction in all parts of

Canada

Eastern CougarWhooping CranePitcher’s Thistle

Eastern Mountain Avens

EXTIRPATEDAny species no longer exists

in one part of Canada, but can be found in other parts

Grizzly Bear

THREATENEDAny species that is likely to

become endangered if factors that make it

vulnerable are not reversed

Wood BisonFowler’s Toad

VULNERABLEAny species that is at risk of low or declining numbers at the fringe of its range or in

some restricted area

Grey FoxWolverine

Pacific Giant SalamanderArctic cod

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/2415_wolves.html

Assignment:1)      Read page 142) Do Understanding Concepts pg 15

3) Do the Wild Wolves Activity

Video : Wolves and Buffalo

1.10 Energy in Ecosystems pg 32 The source of all energy for ecosystems is the SUN. The Sun:-         provides light-         warmth-         gives energy needed to evaporate water-         provides energy for plants to make their own food (photosynthesis)

Of the energy radiating from the Sun  -         30% is reflected by cloud’s and the earth’s surfaceThe reflection of the Sun’s energy off of a surface is called the ALBEDO EFFECT. The more reflective a surface is, the higher the albedo of that surface. -         70% warms the earth causing water to evaporate and generating the water cycle and weather  -         0.023% is used for photosynthesisPHOTOSYNTHESIS is the process green plants use to convert sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen

 Assignment :1)      Read pgs 32 –332) Do Understanding Concepts page 33

 1.11 Following Energy Movements In Ecosystems

Energy is passed through the TROPHIC levels of an ecosystem. Trophic means “feeder”.

  Third trophic level *SECONDARY

CONSUMERSWolves, hawks, owls

Second trophic level *PRIMARY CONSUMERS

Mice, deer , rabbits

First trophic level PRODUCERS or AUTOTROPHS

Plants , algae, bacteria

 Consumers are also referred to as* HETEROTROPHS, or organisms that cannot make their own food.

Every organism in an ecosystem provides energy for other organisms. FOOD CHAINS provide a step by step sequence of who eats whom in an ecosystem.   Ex. Plants Rabbits Wolves (CARNIVORE) When several food chains are connected a feeding relationship a FOOD WEB is created. (figure 3 pg 35).

The most stable ecosystems, those with the greatest BIODIVERSITY , have such complex and well developed food webs that the removal of even one food chain does not have a great negative affect on the other food chains in the web.

There is a limit on the energy transfer within a food chain. Only about 10% of the available energy in a lower trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level.

  10% 10% Plants Rabbits Wolves The other 90% is used within the original trophic level for

reproduction, living,growing and lost as heat.

Another limitation on the energy transfer between trophic levels are the LAWS OF THERMODYNAMICS

1)      First Law – energy can be changed from one form to another, it cannot be created or destroyed

2) Second Law – during energy changes some of the energy is lost in the form of heat and therefore cannot be passed on

Energy transfers in ecosystems can be graphed

1)      PYRAMID OF ENERGY- represent energy flow through the food chain or web. Measured in kilojoules or calories

2)      PYRAMID OF NUMBERS –represent the number of organisms at each trophic level of a food chain

3) PYRAMID OF BIOMASS – the dry mass (water removed) of all the organisms at each trophic level. Measured in kilograms

Assignment1) Do the Pyramids Activity2) Do understanding Concepts pg 39

Test # 1 Sections 1.5, 3.1, 1.2, 1.6, 1.4, 1.10,

1.11

2.1 Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems pg 50 Matter can be found in 2 forms:

ORGANIC – matter that is or once was alive, containing carbon, hydrogen and often oxygen and nitrogen. These substances can be broken down and reformed in an ecosystem(recycled).

INORGANIC – matter that was never alive and does contain carbon or hydrogen in its chemical makeup.

DECOMPOSERS play a large role in the recycling of organic material. When bacteria feeds on dead organic material decay takes place. These decomposers breakdown the organic material into small molecules that pass into the soil and water and become available for use by other organisms.

 Assignment1)      Read pg 502) Do Understanding Concepts pg 51

2.2 Case Study “Pesticides” pg 52 

Read the following sections:-         PESTICIDES

– answer (a) and (b)-         BIOAMPLIFICATION

– answer (e) and (f)-         Pesticides and the Great Lakes

– answer (r) and (s) AssignmentDo Understanding Concepts 1,2 pg 58

2.5 The Carbon Cycle Pg 62 Carbon is the key element for living things.

Carbon can be found in:1)      The atmosphere (CO2)

2)      Dissolved in the ocean (Carbonates, CO32-)

3)      Plants (sugar, C6H12O6)

4) Animals (protein)5) Soil and rocks (Carbonates, CO3

2-)

As carbon moves through the ecosystem it is changed from one form to another in a process called the CARBON CYCLE. In Plants : PHOTOSYNTHESIS sunlight

CO2 + H2O C6H12O6 + O2

 In Animals : RESPIRATION

C6H12O6 + O2 CO2 + H2O

RESERVOIRS OF CARBON are places where carbon is stored for a certain amount of time

1)      Oceans – much of the earths’s carbon is stored as dissolved CO2 and Carbonates

2)      Soil – some is found in the soil as carbonates

3)      Atmosphere – Much of the earth’s carbon is found here in the form of CO2

4)      Plants and animals – protein in the structures of the cells

5) Fossil Fuels – Decayed plant and animal material subjected to heat and pressure (Oil)

Assignment1)      Read Pg 62-642)      Do Understanding Concepts pg 653) Activity:Play the Carbon Cycle game http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html

2.6 The Nitrogen Cycle pg 66 Life depends on the cycling of nitrogen. NITROGEN is:1)      used by cells to make protein in plants and animals2)      used to make DNA in plant and animal cells3) used as fertilizer to make plants grow

The atmosphere is 79% nitrogen , all of which is unusable by plants and animals Nitrogen is changed into nitrates by nitrogen fixing bacteria in the soil through a chemical process known as nitrification.  Those nitrates can be used by plants as fertilizers to grow or they can be turned back into atmospheric nitrogen by other bacteria known as denitrifying bacteria. The nitrogen in the plants is consumed by animals or bacteria when they die and decay  The animals excrete waste and the ammonia in the waste is changed by nitrogen fixing bacteria into nitrates which can then be recycled to the atmosphere or back into the plants

This is the NITROGEN CYCLE

Assignment1)      Read pg 66 and 672)      Do Understanding Concepts 1-5 pg 693)      Activity : Play the Nitrogen Cycle Gamehttp://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/teach_nitrogen.html

2.9 Monitoring Changes in Populations pg 74

Human population growth remained relatively constant for thousands of years. In the last 3 centuries human population has exploded. (see figure 1 pg 74) 

Factors that affect population sizes 

NATALITY ( births) The number of offspring born each year

MORTALITY(deaths)The number of individuals of a species

that die in one year

IMMIGRATIONThe number of individuals of a species

moving into an existing population

EMMIGRATIONThe number of individuals of a species moving out of an existing population

In most OPEN POPULATIONS all 4 of the above factors will influence the population size of a species In a CLOSED POPULATION immigration and emigration do not occur POPULATION HISTOGRAMS are used to study populations of long lived organisms.

Double histograms allow you to compare population growth by sex (male and female) see figure 3 pg 75

 

Assignment1)      read pg 74 and 752)      Do Understanding Concepts pg 763)      Do the Try This Activity “ Making a Histogram” pg 764)      Activity : Play the “Oh Deer Game”http://www.riverventure.org/charleston/resources/pdf/population%20study%20game.pdf

2.10 Limits on Populations pg 77

Mice populations can change drastically in 6 months. 20 mice can become 5120 mice. Why don’t we see billions of mice when we look out the window? The reason is that, there are limitations on all populations including mice.

Limiting Factors on Populations 

BIRTH POTENTIAL

The maximum number of offspring per birth. Whooping cranes lay only 2 eggs per year and only one survives

CAPACITY FOR SURVIVAL

The number of offspring that reach reproductive age. The female sea turtle lays many eggs, but only a few of her offspring even reach the sea and fewer still reach maturity

PROCREATION

The number of times that a species reproduces each year. Elk mate only once per year in the fall

LENGTH OF REPRODUCTIVE LIFE

The age of sexual maturity and the number of years the individual can reproduce. African elephants reach sexual maturity at about 15 years of age, but may reproduce until they are 90

Other Limiting Factors on Population Size 

  Factors that cause a population to increase

Factors that cause a population to decrease

Abiotic

-Favourable light-Favourable temperature-Favourable chemical environment

-Too much or too little light-Too cold or too warm-Unfavourable chemical environment

Biotic

-Sufficient food-Low number or low effectiveness of predators-Few or weak diseases and parasites-Ability to compete for resources

-Insufficient food-High number or high effectiveness of predators-Many or strong diseases and parasites-Inability to successfully compete for resources

A community is stable when none of the populations exceeds the carrying capacity of the ecosystem. The CARRYING CAPACITY is the maximum number of individuals that can be supported indefinitely by an ecosystem. The populations are also controlled by 2 laws:

1)      LAW OF MIMIMUM – the food source in least supply is the one that limits the populations growth

2)      LAW OF TOLERANCE – too much or too little of a resource can also limit a population. Organisms can only survivor tolerate a certain range of an abiotic factor.

Some factors that control population can be dependent on the size or density of the population

 

DENISTY – INDEPENDENT FACTORS

DENSITY – DEPENDENT FACTORS

Flood Food shortage

FireCompetition for mates or breeding area

(HABITAT)

Spraying with pesticides Diseases caused by parasites

Change in climate or temperature Introduction of an EXOTIC SPECIES

Destruction of habitat Increased predation

DroughtCompetition for water and other

resources

Assignment1)      Read pg 77-792)      Do Understanding Concepts pg 803)      Activity : Play the Extinction Game 

Test # 2Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 2.6, 2.9, 2.10, Extinction

Game