|
Framework
|
Topic outline
Click the linked topics below for additional
resources
| Ecological Principles |
| 1. Commoner's laws of ecology |
a.
"Everything is connected to
everything else"
b. "Everything must go somewhere"
c. "Nature knows best"
d. "There is no such thing as a free lunch" |
| 2. Energy primer |
a. Definition
b. Laws of energy
c. Types of energy |
| 3. Evolution |
a.
Natural selection
b. Environmental adaptations and ecological
niche
c. Speciation, biodiversity, co-evolution,
extinction
d. Rates of evolution - gradualism vs.
punctuated equilibrium |
| 4. Organismal ecology |
a.
Unit of natural selection
survival and
reproduction
b. Kingdoms of life and requirements for life
c. Habitat, environmental adaptations, and
ecological niche
d. Homeostasis and feedback regulation
thermoregulation, osmoregulation, gas
exchange, energetics
e. Cellular metabolism photosynthesis,
cellular respiration,
chemosynthesis
|
| 5.
Population ecology |
a. Population dynamics exponential vs.
logistic growth
b. Carrying capacity and limiting factors
c. Population structure
age, gender,
survivorship
d. Population genetics and genetic diversity |
| 6. Community ecology |
a.
Species interactions resource
competition, predation,
symbiosis
b. Competitive exclusion principle
c. Niche partitioning and keystone species
d. Species biodiversity
e. Ecological succession primary vs.
secondary
f. Disturbance |
| 7. Ecosystem ecology |
a.
Matter/Biogeochemical cycles
(biotic/abiotic) water,
carbon, nitrogen,
phosphorous, sulfur
b. Energy flow trophic levels, food
pyramids, food webs
c. Thermodynamics 1st law (conservation
of energy) and 2nd law
(entropy)
d. Biomes environmental factors influencing
distribution
e. Value of ecosystem services |
| 8.
Biosphere ecology |
a. Global energy flow solar input,
ocean
currents, air mass circulation
b. Global matter cycling global
biogeochemical cycles
c. Global biodiversity species distribution
and abundance
d. Plate tectonics theory of continental drift
e. Global environmental issues extinction
crisis, climate
change, etc. |
|
RESOURCES
| Ecological Principles |
| |
Basic Ecology Concepts Review (worksheet)
Source:
David Bendlin, Milton School District
Worksheet (MS Word)
This two page worksheet helps
students review a variety of ecology concepts. |
| |
Ecology Fundamentals (images)
Source: Educational Communications Board
Web site
ECB VideoLink offers high-quality digital media
for students and educators. This series of images illustrating
biotic components, habitats, producers, etc. |
| |
Leopold Education Project (activities)
Source: Leopold Education Project
Web site:
http://www.lep.org
The Leopold Education Project (LEP) deals with Part I of The
Sand County Almanac, which records observations and events
throughout the seasons. Although the over-riding purpose of the
lessons is to promote responsible decision making regarding our
impact on ecosystems, the developers do not advocate particular
positions on value-sensitive issues such as hunting, using
wetlands, applying pesticides and herbicides, or any others. The
LEPs underlying theory about these controversial topics is that
given a supportive classroom climate to study a variety of
positions and viewpoints, students will develop responsible
environmental values on their own. |
| |
Sustainable Tomorrow: A Teachers' Guidebook for
Applying Systems Thinking to Environmental Education Curricula
for Grades 9-12
Source: Pacific Education
Institute
Download (PDF)
This is a guidebook for incorporating
systems thinking into instruction. Systems thinking looks at the
whole of a system rather than individual parts to better
understand complex phenomena. The guide includes background
information on systems concepts, tools, and skills. There are
also examples of how to apply a systems perspective to existing
lessons. |
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