Unit 6: Ecology IntroDoc

Standards 2.A.1; 2.B.2; 2.B.3; 2.C.1

Essential Questions: You will be able to answer:

* How do biotic and abiotic factors affect the carrying capacity and biodiversity of an ecosystem?

* How does matter cycle and energy flow in an ecosystem?

* How does photosynthesis, cellular respiration, decomposition, and combustion cycle carbon?

* Why do populations maintain their size when conditions remain stable but can change when the ecosystem changes?

The Learning Goals:

• I can explain the nature of interactions between organisms in predator/prey relationships and different symbiotic relationships.S

• I can explain how cooperative and competitive predator/prey relationships help maintain balance within an ecosystem.

• I can describe the flow of energy and matter within a food web.

• I can explain why there are generally more producers than consumers in an energy pyramid.

• I can predict how the use and flow of energy will be altered due to changes in a food web.

• I can explain the processes of recycling nitrogen, oxygen and carbon in an ecosystem.

• I can explain the importance of the recycling of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon within an ecosystem.