Ecology Syllabus



Fri/Mon

Nov. 14 & Nov. 17

TAKE HOME ESSAYS  DUE for D Block

News Report

A block: Eliza


1. How a bomb testing changed our trees (NPR)

Biomagnification- Explain



2. Species Interactions charades!

(keystone species, indicator species, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism, interspecies competition, intraspecies competition, interference competition, exploitation competition, resource partioning, producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, decomposer (detritus), generalist, specialist)

(Review Species Interactions)


3. Video!



Tue/Wed

Nov. 18 & Nov. 19

Take Home Essays Due A block!

News Report

A block:  Zach

D block: Kareem

The Day They Parachuted Cats into Borneo Activity

1. Food chain vs. food web

(trophic levels)

2. 3 basic types of Ecological pyramids

3. 10% Rule /Law of Thermodynamics

4. GPP & NPP

5. Ecological Niches (Fundamental vs. Realized Niche)

6. How do ecosystems respond to change?

(Ecological succession,primary succession,secondary succession )

7. Pioneer species, early successional plant species, mid successional plant species, late successional plant species, facilitation, inhibition, tolerance)

8. Natural disturbance and Intermediate disturbance hypothesis




Read 2 of the following articles

and respond to the following questions:

1)  What questions do you have regarding the content of the pieces you read?

2) What connections can you make specifically to the study of ecology?

3)  What was the most interesting thing you read and why?

(This response should be 1 page typed MAXIMUM.)


:  The Ecology of Fear: Wolves Gone, Western Ecosystems Suffer


Unwittingly, Earth becomes a lab


Tsunami & Environment


Is Life Thriving Deep Beneath the Seafloor 


Thur/Fri

Nov. 20 & Nov. 21


News Report

A block: Erin

D block:  Alex


1. Ecotone

2. Law of Tolerance & Limiting Factor Principle

3. Biological Communities

shaped by Individual species live in them, interactions among species, and how species interact with physical environment)

a) species richness

b) species eveness

Biodiversity Survey Methods

c) Shannon-Weiner index

d) Vegetation transects

e) Vegetation quadrats

f) Tangle foot card

g) Catch & release method

4. Observations in the garden! ~10 to 20 minutes


Read:  Putting a Price Tag on the Planet

 Take Notes as you do this reading.

You will be crafting a formal response to this article...


Mon/Tue

Nov. 24 & Nov. 25


Field Trip to McNears Beach

Invasive Plant Removal

Meet in MA circle @ 8 am SHARP!

You have already read:  Putting a Price Tag on the Planet


Now craft a 1 to 2 page typed response (10 points) to the article. Specifically address the following questions:

What would a United States Ecosystem Assessment look like ? (3 points - provide specific details and at least 2 examples) What would a California Ecosystem Assessment look like? (3 points- provide specific details and at least 2 examples) And finally, what results or effects would you hope this sort of assessment has on our earth, culture and local communities? (3 points- provide 3 specific results/effects)

1 point overall clarity, conciseness and organization.

(Please provide specific examples from your book,  notes from class and the article.)

A block:  DUE Wednesday (No HW over Thanksgiving Break!)

D block:  Finish by Wednesday OR...

Due Wednesday Dec. 3rd --so you don't have to do HW over thanksgiving break...



Wed

Nov. 26

Grandparents Day


News Report

A block: Kayla

Garden:  Replant Carrots!!!


No HW!




Mon

Dec. 1

News Report

D block: Stephanie

Movie:  How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

D block:  Finish Response:  1 to 2 page typed response to Putting a Price Tag on the Planet...



Tues/Wed.

Dec. 2 & Dec. 3


News Report

A block:  No News Report

D block: Devon


A block:  Movie:  How Cuba Survived Peak Oil


D block:  Introduce:


Biological Communities

shaped by Individual species live in them, interactions among species, and how species interact with physical environment)

a) species richness

b) species eveness

Biodiversity Survey Methods

c) Shannon-Weiner index

d) Vegetation transects

e) Vegetation quadrats

f) Tangle foot card

g) Catch & release method

 




Read: Wallace Stegner's article entitled "Wilderness Letter".  This article/letter received global attention and is still relevant today. Please read the forward before the letter and conclude reading on page 5.


Respond to this article with a 1 paged typed response (9 points):

Before you begin writing your response look up the Wilderness Act in your textbook.  Take into consideration that Stegner wrote this letter 4 years before this act was adopted.

Your 1 page response should address the following questions:

*What connections does this letter have to all the topics we have covered this fall? (3 points.  Provide at least 2 clear examples)

*What elements of this letter are still relevant, imperative to us today and why? (3 points- provide at least 1 clear, thorough example)

*What elements of this letter do you agree and disagree with and why? (3 points- provide supporting evidence for your support or lack of support)




Thur./Fri

Dec. 4 & Dec. 5

News Report

A block:  Karin

D block:  Rebecca


A & D block

Finish up How to measure Biodiversity

Vegetation transects

Vegetation quadrats

tangle foot cards

catch and release

Shannon-Weiner Index

1. Read the following story about niche, habitat, & conservation:


Niche & Habitat



2.  Congratulations!  You are in charge of protecting and sustaining the world's terrestrial biodiversity.  List the three most important features of your "World Biodiversity policies" for using land and conserving species worldwide?  Specifically use examples from what you read in "Niche and Habitat" in your World Biodiversity policy.  Your HW should reveal what you learned from this reading and should reveal what YOU think are the most important elements to conservation and biodiversity...


3. For Extra Info on Conservation and for ideas that have already been proposed for widespread biodiversity conservation: check out this great piece rich with wonderful, clear examples:  Conservation Biology


5 point HW assignment

1 page typed!-  Please make this detail /specific rich!  Thanks!


Mon/Tue.

Dec. 8 & Dec. 9


News Report

A block:  Noah

D block:  Catie

1. Conservation  Discussion/Notes

Review Endangered Species Act

lacey act

Movie if time permits on Conservation/Saving species...


Review for APes Final Next class
You will get a set of essays (~8 essays).  4 of them will actually be on the AP exam.  You will use class time to start preparing for the AP exam!  Good Luck!

Wed/Thur.
Dec. 10 & 11th

In class Review
Work on 8 Possible Exam Essay Questions. Take Notes. Ask Questions. 4 of these essays will be on the exam. You will not be allowed to bring in notes for the exam.  


Study for FINAL EXAM

Monday

December 15th


12:30 SCIENCE EXAM

HAVE A GREAT WINTER BREAK!!