1. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 1/20/15 ESSENTIAL QUESTION How is energy transferred in an ecosystem? What does the energy pyramid show? AGENDA Article: Orca whale 5-1 Discussion: Energy flow in ecosystems Shortening the food chain activity STANDARDS SEV1.b: Relate energy changes to food chains, food webs, and to trophic levels in a generalized ecosystem. SEV1.d: Relate the cycling of matter to the Law of Conservation of matter and energy. Identify the role and importance of decomposers in the recycling process. WARM-UP Contrast autotrophs and heterotrophs. Provide an example of each.

2. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 1/21/15 ESSENTIAL QUESTION How does energy flow through an ecosystem? AGENDA Article: Lionfish article Make your own food web activity STANDARDS SEV1.b: Relate energy changes to food chains, food webs, and to trophic levels in a generalized ecosystem. SEV1.d: Relate the cycling of matter to the Law of Conservation of matter and energy. Identify the role and importance of decomposers in the recycling process. S.ChS.8: Students will understand important features of the process of scientific inquiry Warm-Up Formulate a response to the following prompt: Biodiversity is important because……. (at least 2 sentences)

3. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 1/22/15 ESSENTIAL QUESTION How are the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles significant to ecosystems? How does the food chain apply to what we eat? AGENDA Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle discussion Food chain menu activity STANDARDS SEV3.d: Explain how biotic and abiotic factors influence populations. Distinguish between abiotic and biotic factors. SEV1.a: Interpret biogeochemical cycles including hydrologic, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon cycles. SEV1.b: Relate energy changes to food chains, food webs, and to trophic levels in a generalized ecosystem. SEV1.d: Relate the cycling of matter to the Law of Conservation of matter and energy. Identify the role and importance of decomposers in the recycling process. Warm-Up Explain why so much energy is lost when going up the energy pyramid (be sure to name the process).

4. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 1/23/15 ESSENTIAL QUESTION What is succession? What are the two types and examples of each? Why is succession important? AGENDA 5-3 Discussion: How ecosystems change Ecological succession interactive STANDARDS SEV3.b: Explain succession in terms of changes in communities through time. SEV3.c: Explain how succession may be altered by traumatic events. WARM-UP Take out your drawing of the energy pyramid. Explain the 3 trends it shows. (For example, describe how biomass changes from the bottom to top of energy pyramid.)

5. Standards for Unit 2 SEV1.a: Interpret biogeochemical cycles including hydrologic, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon cycles. SEV1.b: Relate energy changes to food chains, food webs, and to trophic levels in a generalized ecosystem. SEV1.d: Relate the cycling of matter to the Law of Conservation of matter and energy. Identify the role and importance of decomposers in the recycling process. Distinguish between abiotic and biotic factors. SEV2.a: Describe how the abiotic components affect the biosphere. SEV2.b: Recognize and give examples of the hierarchy of organisms. SEV2.d: Characterize the components that define freshwater and marine systems. SEV3.b: Explain succession in terms of changes in communities through time. SEV3.c: Explain how succession may be altered by traumatic events. SEV3.d: Explain how biotic and abiotic factors influence populations. SEV3.e: Describe interactions between individuals (mutualism, etc.).