March 10

Introduction to Ecology & Vocabulary Activity 🌱🌎

📅 Assigned: March 10
📅 Graded as a Class: March 11

In this lesson, students were introduced to ecology, the study of how living organisms interact with their environment and each other. Through guided notes and vocabulary activities, students explored key ecological concepts, including ecosystems, food chains, and symbiotic relationships.

📝 What We Covered:

1️⃣ What is Ecology?

• Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their environment.

• Biotic factors = Living things (plants, animals, bacteria).

• Abiotic factors = Non-living things (water, sunlight, air, rocks).

2️⃣ Levels of Organization in Ecology:

• Organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biosphere.

• Example: A frog (organism) lives in a pond with other frogs (population), alongside fish, insects, and plants (community), all interacting with the water, soil, and sunlight (ecosystem).

3️⃣ Energy Flow in an Ecosystem:

• Producers (plants) make their own food.

• Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores) eat plants or other animals.

• Decomposers (bacteria, fungi) break down dead organisms and recycle nutrients.

• Energy pyramids show how energy moves through trophic levels.

4️⃣ Food Chains & Food Webs:

• Food chains show a single path of energy flow (e.g., Grass → Rabbit → Fox).

• Food webs are more complex and show multiple interconnected food chains.

5️⃣ Symbiotic Relationships:

• Mutualism (+/+): Both organisms benefit (e.g., bees pollinate flowers).

• Commensalism (+/0): One benefits, the other is unaffected (e.g., barnacles on a whale).

• Parasitism (+/-): One benefits, the other is harmed (e.g., fleas on a dog).

6️⃣ Limiting Factors & Carrying Capacity:

• Limiting factors (food, water, shelter) control population size.

• Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an environment can support.

📌 Activity Details:

✅ Ecology Notes: Completed as a class using a presentation.
✅ Vocabulary Worksheet: Defined key terms and answered questions on ecosystems, energy flow, and symbiosis.
✅ Class Discussion & Review: Connected ecological concepts to real-world examples.

🌍 Why This Matters:

Understanding ecology helps us see how humans impact the environment and how all living things are interconnected. This knowledge is essential for conservation efforts, protecting biodiversity, and sustaining ecosystems!

✅ Great job reviewing ecology! Keep thinking about how energy and resources shape life on Earth. 🌱🔬✨