Download Unit 3 - "Biodiversity and Ecology" Essential Questions: Learning

Unit 3 - "Biodiversity and Ecology"
In this unit, we will examine the tremendous biodiversity of Earth, how it develops over time through evolution, and how humans are impacting it. We will
consider the dynamics that shape any particular species' population, and how communities of species interact over time to function. Conservation of these
communities is key.
Essential Questions:
1.
2.
3.
How is Earth's great biodiversity generated, and how does it change naturally over time?
What factors influence the ecology of populations, and how do interacting populations form communities?
How are humans causing a "6th mass extinction", why should we care, and how do we best avert it?
Learning Target – I CAN . . .
Chapter 5: Evolution of Biodiversity
1.
Explain the concept of biodiversity and how it is measured.
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
3.
Differentiate between ecosystem, species and genetic diversity.
Know the number of species estimated on Earth.
Define species richness and species evenness.
Describe why scientists use phylogenies and interpret a phylogenetic tree.
Describe the ways in which evolution can occur
Differentiate and give examples of micro and macro evolution.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
4.
Describe how mutations occur and how they can affect offspring.
Define genotype and phenotype and give one example of each.
Define and describe examples of evolution by artificial selection.
Explain evolution by natural selection and include Darwin’s 5 key ideas.
Define fitness and adaptations and explain how they both relate to each other.
Explain evolution by random processes including mutation, genetic drift, bottleneck effect and founder effect.
Explain how environmental change affects speciation and extinction.
a.
b.
c.
d.
5.
Define geographic isolation and give examples.
Define reproductive isolation.
Explain the relationship between the pace of evolution and rate of environmental change, genetic variation, population size, and generation time.
Describe the process of genetic engineering to create genetically modified organisms. Give several examples.
Explain the concept of an ecological niche.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Differentiate between fundamental and realized niche.
List key characteristics of generalists and specialists.
Describe how environmental changes altered tree species distribution over time.
Identify three reasons why a species might go extinct.
Define mass extinction and list how many Earth has experienced.
Describe what scientists believed caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Chapter 6: Populations & Community Ecology
6.
List the levels of complexity found in the natural world.
a.
7.
Define the following and describe what scientists study at each level.
i. Individual
ii. Population
iii. Community
b.
c.
Define the following population characteristics and explain why scientists study them.
i. Population size (N)
ii. Population density
iii. Population distribution
Define and give examples of density-dependent factors.
Define and give examples of density-independent factors.
iv.
v.
Population sex ratio
Population age structure
iii.
Parasitism
Explain growth models, reproductive strategies, survivorship curves, and metapopulations.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
9.
Ecosystem
Biosphere
Contrast the ways in which density-dependent and density-independent factors affect population size.
a.
8.
iv.
v.
Sketch and describe the exponential growth model.
Sketch and describe the logistic growth model.
Explain how overshoots and die-offs relate to carrying capacity.
Describe how predation can affect populations of both the predator and prey.
Compare K-selected species characteristics with r-selected species characteristics.
Correlate K-selected species and r-selected species with their appropriate survivorship curves.
Explain why corridors are important to metapopulations.
Describe species interactions and the roles of keystone species.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Explain how the competitive exclusion principle leads to resource partitioning.
Describe the four different types of predators and explain why predation is beneficial.
Describe different defense mechanisms that prey have evolved in response to predators.
Define and give examples of the following symbiotic relationships.
i. Mutualism
ii. Commensalism
Describe the role and characteristics of keystone species.
Define and give an example of an ecosystem engineer.
10. Discuss the process of ecological succession.
a.
b.
Define ecological succession.
Define and diagram primary succession and give examples of when this might occur.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Describe the soil formation process in primary succession.
Explain why weeds, grasses and wildflowers make good mid-successional plants.
Define and diagram secondary succession and give examples of when this might occur.
Describe the role pioneer species plays in succession. Give one example.
Explain how aquatic succession occurs.
11. Explain how latitude, time, area, and distance affect the species richness of a community.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Describe the trend of species richness in terms of latitude and time.
Define and describe the theory of island biogeography.
List three reasons why larger habitats contain more species.
How does the theory of island biogeography relate to conservation?
Chapter 18: Conservation of Biodiversity
12. Understand how genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem function are changing over time.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Identify the current rate of species extinction
Identify the characteristics that make the current 6th mass extinction different than previous extinctions
Define inbreeding depression and be able to explain the genetics behind why it is harmful
Identify examples of inbreeding depression
Explain why and how humans have altered the biodiversity of livestock and crops
Describe the changes that crops have experienced over the past century and the possible dangers of these changes
Explain what scientists have done in response to the decline in seed diversity
Differentiate between the categories of species as defined by IUCN
i. Data-deficient
iv. Near-threatened
ii. Extinct
v. Least concern
iii. Threatened
13. Identify the causes of declining biodiversity.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Identify the greatest cause of species decline and extinction
Explain why habitat loss can be so disruptive to species
Compare and contrast forest loss in different countries and the reasons for the gain or loss in forests
Differentiate between the following terms and list examples of each
i. Native species
iii. Invasive species
ii. Alien or exotic species
Identify the method of transportation, native location, new location, and explain the effects of each of the following species
i. Kudzu vine
iii. Silver carp
ii. Zebra mussel
Explain why invasive species can be harmful to an ecosystem
Define overharvesting and list the human activities that can lead to overharvesting.
Describe what the following pieces of legislation mean for conservation of biodiversity
i. Lacey Act
ii. CITES
14. Describe the single-species approach to conserving biodiversity including the major laws that protect species.
a.
b.
Describe how the following pieces of legislation help conserve single species biodiversity
i. Marine Mammal Protection Act
iii.
ii. Endangered Species Act
Explain the controversy surrounding the Endangered Species Act and identify the examples given
Convention on Biological Diversity
15. Explain the ecosystem approach to conserving biodiversity and how size, shape, and connectedness affect the number of species protected.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Explain the connection between the theory of island biogeography and planning of protected areas
Define SLOSS and why there is a debate surrounding it
Connect edge habitat to SLOSS and the effects of edge habitat
Define biosphere reserves and identify the characteristics that make them unique
Module List and Reading Schedule:
Chapter
Chapter 5 - Evolution of
Biodiversity
Mod
14 &
15
Pages
147 - 153
154 - 163
Topic(s)
Biodiversity of Earth
How Evolution Creates Biodiversity
Due Date
9/12
16
17
164 - 168 + SA2
168 - 173 + WTS
Speciation and the Pace of Evolution
Evolution, Niches, and Species Distributions
9/13
9/14
9/14
Chapter 6 - Population
& Community Ecology
18
19
20
21
189 - 195
196 - 203 + SA2
204 - 212 + WTS
212 - 217
Abundance and Distribution of Populations
Population Growth Models
Community Ecology
Community Succession
Chapter 18 - Biodiversity
Conservation
59
60
631 - 640
641 - 649
The Sixth Mass Extinction
Causes of Declining Biodiversity
61
650 - 656 + WTS
Conservation of Biodiversity
Chapter 5 Quiz
9/15
9/16
9/19
Chapter 6 Quiz
Chapter 18 Quiz
Unit 3 Exam
9/20
9/21
9/22
9/23
9/23
9/26