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Name ________________ Science-8, Period ___ Teacher ___________ Date _________
Unit 9 Lesson 1: Ecosystem Ecology Virtual Lab
Screen 2 - Introduction
Do you know how tall you are? If the Burmese python can grow to be
more than 20 feet long, about how many people of your height, lying
head to toe, would it take to equal that length?
Screen 3 - Background
What species of animals do you see that often seem to get along
together?
As a rule, is it true that animals of different species compete more with
each other than do animals of the same species?
The prefix intra- means "within." In terms of animal competition, what
do you think the term 'intraspecific' refers to?
The prefix inter- means "among" or "between." In terms of animal
competition, what do you think the term 'interspecific' refers to?
Knowing the difference between the terms intraspecifc and interspecific,
how would you classify the type of competition between the Burmese
python and the alligator?
Screen 4 - Demonstration
How certain can we be that conducting a Population Ecololgy simulation
will produce the same results as if we were conducting the same
experiment in the field?
Screen 5 - Make a prediction
If you were to design your own simulation of how a drought might affect
a moose population, what would you include?
Can you think of another variable that might be important to factor into
the simulation?
What do you think would happen to the moose population if there was a
drought?
What do you think would happen to the moose population if a herd of
deer moved into the same ecosystem?
Screen 6 - Plan your work
Why do you think that the simulation shown in the lesson was
structured the way it was-looking first at one primary consumer in a
food chain, and then two; and then considering the effect of a drought?
Screen 8 - Analyze your results
Why do you think we carry out simulations such as these?
Screen 9 - Evaluate your conclusions
Why is it important to draw conclusions after an experiment is
conducted?
An important part of drawing conclusions is comparing the predictions
made before an experiment with the results. What happens if the results
don't match the predictions?
Screen 10 -Take it further
What is a drought?
Why is it important to make predictions before conducting any
experiment?
Screen 11 -Drought conditions
Why is this experiment better conducted in a simulation than in the
field?
Screen 12 -Check your prediction
If this experiment has a certain result today, why might the same
experiment have a different outcome tomorrow, next year, or in a
thousand years?
Screen 13 -Eating efficiency
Is the park in your community an ecosystem? Why or why not?
Think of a simulation you could conduct that would take place in a
nearby park.
What other factors might you want to change in a simulation involving
an ecosystem?
Screen 14 What about the python?
Other than by the direct introduction of a competing species by human
beings, how might a new competitor be introduced into an ecosystem?
How can you find out what really is happening with the Burmese
pythons in the everglades?