Unit 2

1. Unit and Chapter pages-  There are 10 total  units, starting with Unit 0.  Each consists of 2-3 chapters.  

   • Each unit page should have sub-links to chapters (Ex:  APES>Unit 0 >>Chapter 1)

   • Each chapter page should include

     • CHAPTER SUMMARY:  This brief summary/reflection should be more than 5 sentences, less than 10, in your own words.  Focus on what you took away from the chapter’s big ideas/concepts.  

     • LINK TO TEXT:  A link to the chapter pdf  

     • CHAPTER FOLDER:  A private link to your chapter subfolder (carefully set these permissions so that only you and Ms. Stewart have access to the folder and docs!).  In this folder, you should have your:

       • chapter outline (Follow Chapter Outline Guidelines)

       • chapter vocabulary (optional, but helpful!)

       • chapter review questions (optional, but helpful!)

       • labs or activities from the chapter. 

     • Useful Media: Videos, articles, etc.

Study Artifacts: Links to any study materials that you found helpful when preparing for the chapter test.

Module 8: Biodiversity exists on four scales: genetic, species, habitat, and ecosystem. Biodiversity is important for long-term persistence of populations because it allows resistance and resilience. High genetic diversity helps populations resist disease and environmental stressors. Habitat loss can lead to the loss of specialist species and reduces numbers of any species that require large, continuous habitats.

Module 9: Ecosystem services are the benefits humans receive from natural ecosystems, such as food, clean water, and climate regulations. These services are essential for human well-being and are often under valued, but they are crucial for maintaining a healthy planet. Human activity can have large impacts on ecosystem services, both positive or negative. Biodiversity is important for food production, freshwater supply, and pollination. There are negative consequences to land clearing, water pollution, and pesticide use on ecosystem services. Reducing pesticides is essential to the survival of pollinators, which are crucial for the reproduction of plants. 

Module 10: Island biogeography is the study of how species are disturbed and interact on islands, Larger islands tend to have more species than smaller islands, and the relationship between island size and species richness is often linear. The number of species on an island is determined by the distance between the island and the mainland and the size of the island. The further away an island is from the mainland, the fewer species it will have, and the smaller the island, the fewer species it will have.

Module 11: The location where individuals and species can live is determined by the abiotic and biotic factors that they can tolerate. These factors include temperature, humidity, salinity, sunlight, water flow, competitors, predators, and diseases. Environmental chance can cause species to go extinct because they cannot adapt to the change or move to more favorable environment. 99% of the species that have ever lived on Earth are now extinct. The greatest mass extinction on record took place 251 million years ago when a meteorite struck Earth and blocked incoming solar radiation, resulting in an almost complete halt to photosynthesis. 

Module 12: Ecosystems can change over time due to disturbances such as fires, hurricanes, and disease outbreaks. These disturbances can have a large impact on species and ecosystems, but they often occur with some regularity, allwong ecosystems to recover over time. Scientists use indirect measurements to determine past climate changes. These measurements include the analysis of ancient ice, the composition of organisms, and the chemical analysis of air bubbles. Natural disruptions, such as fires, can dramatically alter habitats, but they also stimulate plant growth and can help maintain biodiversity. These disruptions can also cause animal migrations in search of food or more favorable conditions. 

Module 13: Evolution can occur at multiple levels, and it is driven by changes in genes, which are physical locations in chromosomes. These changes can be caused by mutations, which are random changes in the genetic code, or recombination, which brings together new combinations of alleles. Evolution can occur through geographic isolation, polyploidy, or adaptation to a new environment, The rate of evolution can vary depending on factors such as generation time, genetic variation, and artificial selection. Evolution can be slow or fast, and it can lead to the creation of new species. 

Module 14: Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. It can occur on bare rock, where pioneer species break down the rock to create soil, or on land that has been disturbed, where secondary succession occurs. Ecological succession can occur in both aquatic and terrestrial environment, and it often lead to an increase in species richness and biomass. Keystone species are important to the health of an ecosystem, but the are not always the msot abundant species. Indicator species can be used to determine if an ecosystem is healthy or if there are harmful pathogens present. 

Link to folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15bLR6wM7yh0PLS8t-E-h_c9AoB3X1QOu