MISA Monday: Ecosystem Practice - DANI STREETER | Library

Focus Question: How is carrying capacity affected by biotic and abiotic factors within an ecosystem? 

Ecosystems are intricate networks of organisms and their physical environments that interact and depend on each other for survival. These interactions involve both living organisms, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, and non-living components like air, water, and soil. One of the key characteristics of ecosystems is their stability, which is maintained through complex processes such as nutrient cycling, energy flow, and the relationships between different species. For instance, in a forest ecosystem, trees provide habitat for various animals, while those animals help in seed dispersal and pollination, thus forming a symbiotic relationship.

Furthermore, ecosystems can vary greatly in size and complexity, ranging from small ponds to vast oceans, from dense rainforests to barren deserts. Despite this diversity, all ecosystems share common elements like producers (organisms that produce their own food), consumers (organisms that consume other organisms for energy), and decomposers (organisms that break down dead organisms and organic matter). 

Understanding these components and their interactions is crucial for maintaining the balance and health of ecosystems, which in turn supports life on Earth.

Vocabulary: 
Symbiosis: the living together in close association of two different kinds of organisms, especially when such an association is of benefit to both 
Biotic Factors: The living components (organisms) that shape the environment
Abiotic Factors: Nonliving conditions or things, such as climate or habitat, that influence or affect an ecosystem and the organisms in it. 
Homogeneity: The quality or state of being all the same or all of the same kind. 

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1

Which of the following best describes an ecosystem?

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What is one key characteristic of ecosystems?

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How do organisms contribute to the stability of ecosystems?

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Which of the following is NOT a common element shared by all ecosystems?

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3

Match the Cross-Cutting Concepts:

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
Systems & System Models		Investigating or designing new systems or structures requires a detailed examination of the properties of different materials, the structure of different components, and connections of components to reveal its function and/or solve a problem.
Structure & Function		Empirical evidence is required to differentiate between cause and correlation and make claims about specific causes and effects.
Cause & Effect		This concept can be used to simulate systems and interactions including energy, matter, and information flows - within and between systems at different scales.

Read the following written response MISA prompt and answer the following questions. 

Prompt: Analyze the importance of biodiversity in maintaining the health and stability of ecosystems. Provide evidence from the text to support your argument.

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The above prompt can be broken down into 5 sub-questions that together build an entire written response. Which of the following is true?

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Differentiate between an evidence point and a reasoning statement:

Genetic drift, natural selection, and symbiotic relationships all affect the health and stability of an ecosystem by increasing the resilience of its integral biotic factors when faced with inevitable environmental change.
Symbiotic relationships contribute to nutrient cycling and energy flow in ecosystems.
Natural selection is the process by which the random mutations that occur to organisms' DNA, and then those mutations are considered to be advantageous or detrimental to survival of that species.
Genetic drift (random mutations) contributes to increasing biodiversity over time.

Evidence From the Text
Reasoning linking the evidence to the essential question

Required

8

One of the most well-known deserts in the United States is the Mojave Desert. Located in southeastern California, and extending into portions of Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, the Mojave Desert is characterized by its arid climate, sparse vegetation, and unique geological formations such as Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park. It is one of the hottest and driest deserts in North America, with high temperatures and low rainfall contributing to its harsh conditions. 

Applying your knowledge of ecosystems and carrying capacity, complete the following sentences: 

Water is a(n) ____________ factor and a _____________ resource. As water became more scarce in this region, organisms had to __________ in order to survive. One example of this is the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia). The Joshua tree developed _________________ leaves to deter animals from eating it and to _____________ water conservation within the harsh desert environment. Because plants that are not eaten are the ones that reproduce, the Joshua tree population has developed more traits related to water conservation over time through a process called ______________________ . Limitations of _______________ size result from such factors as the availability of living and nonliving resources, and from such challenges such as __________________________________________ 