Important Vocabulary 1. Ecology9. Commensalism 2. Ecologist 10. Sustainability 3. Ecosystem 11. Ecological Footprint 4. Habitat 12. Natural Resources 5. Adaptation 6. Symbiosis 7. Mutualism 8. Parasitism

Topic 1 : Interactions within an ecosystem The four needs of living things 1. Food3. Habitat 2. Water4. *Gas Exchange

Four needs of living things Name 4 animals of your choice and explain how each would meet the 4 needs of living things.

Adaptations An adaptation is an inherited characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment. What are some examples of things that are inherited that would help an organism survive? What are some examples of things that are learned that would help an organism survive? THESE ARE NOT ADAPTATIONS THOUGH AS ADAPTATIONS ARE INHERITED!

Adaptations

Ecosystems An ecosystem is the interactions between the living and non-living parts of the environment. Can you explain some of the interactions in the following environments? School yardBirchwood trails Your house

Kinds of Symbiosis Symbiosis is when two species live closely together in a relationship that lasts over time. 1. Mutualism – a relationship between two different organisms in which each organism benefits. What are some examples of this?

2. Parasitism – a relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed. What are some examples of this? 3. Commensalism – a relationship where one partner benefits and the other neither benefits nor is harmed. What are some examples of this?

Symbiosis

Impacts on ecosystems All organisms have some kind of impact on an environment. Some have a large impact and some have a very small impact. Can you name some organisms that have a big impact on the environment? What impacts do they have? Can you name some organisms that have a small impact on the environment? What impact do they have?

Topic 2 : Human impacts on Ecosystems Natural Resources and human impacts on these resources Natural resources are products and materials that are found in nature. Humans use natural resources to meet many of our wants and needs. Name some things humans do that have an impact on the environment and also talk about the natural resources that are impacted by the action.

Needs and wants and their impacts on the environment Name some human needs and wants and explain how each has an impact on the environment. Ex. Want a new video game – Video game manufacturer has to use more chemicals and plastics to make and package the game. These materials for the packaging can then get put into the environment as garbage.

Changing impacts over time Describe some ways that human impact on the environment has changed over time...this can be a change for the better or for worse. Be sure to explain yourself.

Topic 3 : Environmental Choices Your Ecological Footprint Your Ecological Footprint is a calculation of the total area of land and water needed to supply all of the materials and energy that you use...as well as absorbing the waste you produce. It is the impact that we have on the environment. Sustainability – This means that all resources of nature are being renewed as quickly as they are being used...and all wastes are being completely absorbed. If we as humans do things more sustainably we can reduce our Ecological Footprint.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle To help reduce our Ecological Footprint or impact on the environment we can: Reduce – Reduce the amount of garbage we produce. Reuse – Reuse products rather than throwing them away Recycle – Recycle products so they can be turned into something else useful. Can you name some different ways we can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle products?

Important Vocabulary 1. Biotic9. Scavengers 2. Abiotic 10. Decomposers 3. Niche 11. Transpiration 4. Producer 12. Bioaccumulation 5. Consumer 6. Herbivore 7. Carnivore 8. Omnivore

Topic 4 : How Organisms Interact Biotic – The biotic parts of the environment are the living parts. Abiotic - The abiotic parts of the environment are the non-living parts. Can you name some biotic and abiotic parts of the environment?

Roles of Organisms Their are many niches or roles an organism plays in the environment. They are: 1. Producer – Use energy from the sun to produce nutrients they need to survive. They make life possible for all other organisms. Can you name some different producers? 2. Consumer – They eat food created by the producers. They also eat other consumers. Can you name some different consumers?

3. Herbivore – Animals that eat producers and fill the plant eating niche. Can you name some herbivores? 4. Carnivore – Animals that eat other consumers and fill the meat eating niche. Can you name some carnivores? 5. Omnivore – Animals that eat consumers and producers. They eat plants and meat. Can you name some omnivores?

6. Decomposer – Grow on or in dead or waste material and absorb nutrients into their cells. Can you name some decomposers? 7. Scavenger – Feed on dead or decaying plant or animal matter. Can you name some scavengers? 8. Predator – Consumers that kill and eat other animals called prey. Can you name some predators? 9. Prey – Are hunted and killed by predators. Can you name some prey?

Food Chains A model that shows how energy stored in food passes from organism to organism. A food chain always starts with the sun and has a producer first after the sun. The arrows show the direction of energy transfer. Can you draw four food chains different than my example?

Food Webs A food web is a complex web of feeding relationships between organisms. Food webs don’t include the sun, but do include producers and decomposers. They are more complex than food chains. Arrows point to where the energy travels.

Food Web

Pyramid of Numbers A pyramid of numbers shows the same organisms as a food chain, however, the difference is that it shows how many organisms are at each stage. 1 hawk 6 robins caterpillars leaves

Topic 5 : Cycles in the Environment The Carbon Cycle Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere Carbon Dioxide dissolved in water Burning of fossil fuels Fossil Fuels Photosynthesis Decomposition Burning of Forests Respiration (Breathing)

The Water Cycle Evaporation Condensation Precipitation Run-off Ground water

Bioaccumulation Pollutants move from level to level in a food chain. The pollutants are stored in the organisms and accumulate in higher amounts in the higher level consumers. What are some higher level consumers? Ex. Poison can enter a food chain by poison to kill grasshoppers Then mice have to eat several grasshoppers to make a meal so they accumulate more poison Then a snake eats a couple of mice to make a meal and the poison accumulates more Then I have to kill a few snakes to make a meal and the poison then accumulates the most in me.

Topic 6 : Succession and Change in Ecosystems Succession A process where species replace other species in an ecosystem. 1. Primary Succession Gradual growth of organisms in an area that was previously bare, such as rock. Can you name some places where primary succession would occur? 2. Secondary Succession The gradual growth of organisms in an area that previously had organisms there. Can you name some places where secondary succession would occur?

Introduced Species Read page 62 and tell me two introduced species and also write down why introduced species are bad. Introduced Species Zebra Mussel Purple Loosestrife Starlings Scotch Broom Why introduced species are bad If introduced species are able to survive and reproduce better than natural species, they can take over an ecosystem and cause the natural species to die off.

Topic 7 : Environmental Monitoring There are 4 types of monitoring that scientists do: 1. Physical Monitoring Using satellites to track changes in the landscape over time. Why would we want to do this? 2. Environmental Monitoring Track changes in climate, temperature and weather patterns. Why would we want to do this? 3. Chemical Monitoring Assessing the quality of air, soil and water. Why would we want to do this? 4. Biological Monitoring Track the changes in organisms or populations of organisms. Why would we want to do this?

Baseline Data What is baseline data and why do we need this when doing monitoring? Baseline data is a starting point for scientists to compare changes in the environment. If we don’t have baseline data, we can’t accurately predict or measure changes in the environment.

Succession and Change Cycles in the Environment Primary Succession Water Cycle Carbon Cycle Bioaccumulation Interactions and Ecosystems Explain in your own words how the water cycle works Explain in your own words how the carbon cycle works Explain what bioaccumulation is Secondary Succession Explain what primary succession is and give and example of where it would happen Introduced Species Explain what secondary succession is and give and example of where it would happen Why are introduced species bad for an ecosystem and name two introduced species and the problems they cause You need to add one picture for each box with an arrow pointing to it…a picture that helps remind you of what you are writing about

Interactions and Ecosystems Environmental Monitoring Physical Environmental Chemical Biological Baseline Data Why would we use physical monitoring Why would we use environmental monitoring Why would we use chemical monitoring Why would we use biological monitoring What is the importance of baseline data You need to add one picture for each box with an arrow pointing to it…a picture that helps remind you of what you are writing about