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Biology
LS2-1 Factors Affecting Ecosystems
Page Under Construction
Phenomenon #1
Hydrothermal vent creatures--an unusual ecosystem Smithsonian
What do you know before you see this source? How does it add to your knowledge?
What do you still need to know?
Are all the features of an ecosystem present here compared to your neighborhood?
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Phenomenon #2
Factors affecting populations in ecosystems Moo Moo Math & Science
What do you know before you see this source? How does it add to your knowledge?
What do you still need to know?
HS-LS2-1
Use mathematical and/or computational representations to support explanations of factors that affect carrying capacity of ecosystems at different scales.
Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on quantitative analysis and comparison of the relationships among interdependent factors including boundaries, resources, climate, and competition. Examples of mathematical comparisons could include graphs, charts, histograms, and population changes gathered from simulations or historical data sets.
Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include deriving mathematical equations to make comparisons.
Prior Knowledge/Preview
What is an Ecosystem? Smithsonian Learning Lab
Pretest Activities see item 1.1 in the Left-hand menu NSF/HHMI
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Inquiry science
Printable activity
On-line activity:
What does data about cougars baboons wildebeest bats tell us about the ecosystem? HHMI
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LAB experiments
Lab #1 Making a mesocosm Washington International School
Lab #2 Salmon run field trip Describe the aquatic ecosystem Madden
Lab #3 Ecological succession-changes in a pond Biologycorner
Lab #4 Biocubes activity 1 ft cube Smithsonian NMNH
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Aerospace CONNECTIONS:
Applications and examples
NASA data for crop forecasting from Environmental News Network
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EXTENSION material for the curious
Estimating mobile populations-mark recapture Cornell Inst of Bio Tchrs
How climate and human activity impacts a mountain ecosystem Nature
Ocean diversity Investigating marine invertebrates Smithsonian Learning Lab
Tracking Birds SI Learning Lab
Ecosystem change Plotting with plant collections Smithsonian NMNH
Fern life history and Biodiversity Smithsonian Learning Lab
Project Zero activity
Look at the image below from Orton's drawing of Zones of Animal life from the 1880 text, Comparative Zoology PD
SLOW LOOKING:
Look carefully at the zones included.
How realistic, do you think, is the image? Explain your answer.
What animal could you add to each zone? Draw your image
