Cornstalks Everywhere But Nothing Else, Not Even A Bee

"We'll start in a cornfield — we'll call it an Iowa cornfield in late summer — on a beautiful day. The corn is high. The air is shimmering. There's just one thing missing — and it's a big thing...

...a very big thing, but I won't tell you what, not yet."

Want to find out the VERY BIG THING?  Read more here.

D period - Species Interactions

Today we used the PowerPoint below to talk about the interactions between species.

Homework: Take notes on Slides 12-16

Community Ecology from Stephen Taylor

Populations

C period lab:
Today we spent the first half learning about populations and factors that can affect their size and distribution. You can download the PowerPoint from today's class here (because there are animations, it's not worth it to put it on slideshare).

We watched this TED talk from Hans Rosling.

In the second half of class, you worked on collecting data for Week 2 of the Eutrophication lab and read Module 181 (this module has been annotated for you).

Homework: Read Module 182.  This Module has NOT been annotated for you.

Simpson's Diversity Index

Today you learned about the Simpson's Diversity Index. You can find the sample problem we did in class in the PowerPoint below on slides 2-10.

 

Impacts of Humans on Ecosystems from Stephen Taylor

Biodiversity loss increases infectious diseases among humans

We are now transitioning from evolution to ecology.  To kick off this transition you read a literature review from Nature "Impacts of biodiversity on emergence and transmission of infectious disease." 


C period - Today you collected your first round of data for the eutrophication lab and started to read the article.  For homework, finish reading the article and be prepared to discuss what you read.  Please also bring a device that gets internet (you can use your phone).

D period - To you wrapped worked in expert groups on the domain presentations.  If you are a slow reader you should read 2-3 pages of the Nature article tonight.  You will have 45 minutes in class tomorrow to work on the article finish collecting your first round of eutrophication lab data.

From Mr.T's site: www.i-biology.net.  Click the picture to link to the PowerPoint

Hans Rosling on Global Population Growth

Today we watched Hans Rosling's talk on Global Population growth.

If you are in G period - we will watch this in class tomorrow and use the rest of the class period to prepare for the Harkness Discussion.

Population Growth

Yesterday and today we talked about factors that influence human population growth.  Today students worked on human population calculations and graphing.  Remember:  You have a Harkness discussion on Friday.

Chapter 4 and section 3.1 test

Here's some information about your test on Friday:

There are multiple choice and short answer questions.  You do not need to focus on the specific plants and animals found in each biome, instead, focus more on the human impacts to these biomes (this will also help you to prepare for your Harkness discussion).  You should know about the different types of community interactions, as well as the different types of ecological succession.  You are not responsible for pages 88 and 89.

Terrestrial Biomes

Today C period reviewed the characteristics of the eight major biomes.  Tomorrow C period you will have your mini-presentations on the  aquatic biome that you were assigned in class.

You only need to refer to information from the book and your talk should be no more than 5 minutes long.  Each person must speak.

Climate Graphs

Our essential question for this week is: Why are there different biomes and what is the relationship between a biome and an ecosystem?


Today for C period (tomorrow for G period) students created climate graphs using actual data for 16 sites around the world.  


Part 1: 
Data from the Bates Institute for Climate Research was not saved properly.  You have been asked to match up the sample sites with the data.  


1. Using the information on the index card, plot the latitude and longitude of the two sites you have been given.


2. Based on what you know about the shape of climate graphs and your knowledge of geography  use the space on the back of the worksheet to make predictions about the shape of the climate graphs for the two unknown sites.


3. Once you have completed the predictions, open the file you have been emailed "Climate Graph Data."  Watch the video below for how to create a graph that displays multiple types of data.  Be sure to label and title your graph appropriately.  





If you do not have Excel, you should make the graphs on paper.

4.  Use this map to determine the biome for each of your sites.

Homework:
5. Write a paragraph for EACH site that describes the general characteristics of that biome.  Make sure you include:

The major types of vegetation
Dominant species
Human threats to this biome (this information you may need to research independently of the map site).

TED Talks for your next Harkness Discussion

On Friday May 4th you will have a Harkness discussion that will open with the following prompt:


Discuss the relationship between human population growth and impacts on the biosphere.  


To begin your preparation, watch the following TED Talks.  Take notes and think about how you can craft strong discussion questions.  


Was the last Harkness discussion a blur?  Check out this website with all the reminders you need. 


Brian Skerry Reveals Oceans Glory -- and Horror



Jeremy Jackson: How we wrecked the oceans

Marine Succession

Today we learned about succession in Marine ecosystems.  We listened to Radio Lab's Loops Podcast (minutes 28 to 35) and watched Sharon Shattuck's Whale Fall (below).


Whale Fall (after life of a whale) from Sharon Shattuck on Vimeo.

See what organisms you can identify from the puppets and the Podcast in this actual footage of a decomposing whale.

 

Community Interactions

Today G period learned about the following types of community interactions:

Competition
Predation
Symbiosis
     - mutualism
     - commensalism
     - parasitism

Below are the video clips we watched in class to illustrate these concepts.

Mutualism - "What good for one is good for two."


Mutualism-


Parasitism-

Ecology Part 2

Yesterday (or today for G period) we started the second half of our unit on ecology with this essential question:

What is an ecosystem and what are the factors that shape an ecosystem?

We began by learning about the levels of organization in the Biosphere, biotic and abiotic factors as well as comparing a habitat and a niche.

Today C period expanded on the concept of a niche by learning specifically about various types of interactions between species (G period will do this tomorrow).

Analyzing CO2 Levels in the Environment

Analyzing Data on CO2

Today we will be using data from theMauna Loa Observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii to look at trends in CO2 levels.

Follow the directions below to complete the assignment:

Part 1:
1. Open a word document and title it "Analyzing CO2 Data"

2. Click here to access the Seattle Central Website, open this site in a new window or tab. Information about the data: Time is expressed in months, with May of 1974 as month 1 (zero was not used to avoid the usual problems with exponential and power law regression). The observatory is at 3,400 m or 11,000 feet above sea level.

3. Download the data in an Excel File.

4. Open the Excel File.

5. Create an x y scatter plot for the data. Not sure how to make an x y scatter plot? If you are a Mac user, click here. If you use a PC, you can still look at the slideshow, but some of the formatting in your program will be different.

6. Make sure to add a title and label each axis appropriately. Copy and paste this graph into your word document titled "Analyzing CO2 Data."

Part 2:

Answer the following discussion questions below the graph in your word document. Please answer using complete sentences.

A.Suggest why average carbon dioxide levels increased each year represented in the graph?

B. Explain why the concentrations of CO2 show a yearly zig-zag pattern.

C. Suggest why the island of Hawaiʻi one of the more ideal locations for collecting atmospheric CO2 as a model of the concentration for the world?

D. Does the data collected at Mauna Loa tie in to scientists' recent predictions about climate change and global warming?

Part 3:
Find a current (no later than January 2011) new article on the increase in CO2 levels.

Write the url and title for the article.

Provide a brief summary of the article.

Based on the news source, how much trust can you put into what is said? Explainyour answer.

This assignment is due by the start of class on Friday.  You need to print out your answers.

Nitrogen Cycle

Today during our super short class, students worked in pairs to answer questions about the nitrogen cycle.    After answer the questions, we had a short discussion about the nitrogen cycle.  If you are confused about the nitrogen cycle, check out the animation below.

Tomorrow - G period - please bring a computer to class.  Ideally you should have Excel, however the assignment can be completed using numbers (it's just a bit more challenging with numbers).

C period - the Analyzing CO2 assignment is due in class on Friday.

G period homework due Wednesday

G period:

1. Due Wednesday - Finish the puzzle questions.  You have been emailed a picture of the completed puzzle to help you answer the questions.

2. Due Wednesday - draw the carbon cycle, include all the labels we talked about in class.  You have been emailed links to the animations we watched in class.

3. Bring a computer to class on THURSDAY.  We will be working with Excel.

C period:

The article summary and Excel graph + questions are due in class on Friday.  Your summary should be between 1-2 paragraphs.  Be sure to include the title of the article, source and date it was published. 

Analyzing CO2 Levels in the Environment

Analyzing Data on CO2

Today we will be using data from theMauna Loa Observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii to look at trends in CO2 levels.

Follow the directions below to complete the assignment:

Part 1:
1. Open a word document and title it "Analyzing CO2 Data"

2. Click here to access the Seattle Central Website, open this site in a new window or tab. Information about the data: Time is expressed in months, with May of 1974 as month 1 (zero was not used to avoid the usual problems with exponential and power law regression). The observatory is at 3,400 m or 11,000 feet above sea level.

3. Download the data in an Excel File.

4. Open the Excel File.

5. Create an x y scatter plot for the data. Not sure how to make an x y scatter plot? If you are a Mac user, click here. If you use a PC, you can still look at the slideshow, but some of the formatting in your program will be different.

6. Make sure to add a title and label each axis appropriately. Copy and paste this graph into your word document titled "Analyzing CO2 Data."

Part 2:

Answer the following discussion questions below the graph in your word document. Please answer using complete sentences.

A.Suggest why average carbon dioxide levels increased each year represented in the graph?

B. Explain why the concentrations of CO2 show a yearly zig-zag pattern.

C. Suggest why the island of Hawaiʻi one of the more ideal locations for collecting atmospheric CO2 as a model of the concentration for the world?

D. Does the data collected at Mauna Loa tie in to scientists' recent predictions about climate change and global warming?

Part 3:
Find a current (within the last year) new article on the increase in CO2 levels.

Write the url and title for the article.

Provide a brief summary of the article.

Based on the news source, how much trust can you put into what is said? Explainyour answer.

This assignment is due by the start of class on Friday.  You may either print out your answers and bring them to class or email me your answers.

How Elements Cycle Through the Environment

G period: You do not have anything due on Tuesday

C period:

1. Due Tuesday - Finish the puzzle questions.  You have been emailed a picture of the completed puzzle to help you answer the questions.

2. Due Tuesday - draw the carbon cycle, include all the labels we talked about in class.  You have been emailed links to the animations we watched in class.

3. Bring a computer to class tomorrow.  We will be working with Excel.

My Mushroom Burial Suit

On Friday we asked our second essential question: How are nutrients conserved / cycled through an ecosystem?

At the end of class on we watched the clip below.  C period: Write a short reflection with your thoughts on the clip.  What surprised you?  Did anything scare you? Is there anything you want to learn more about after seeing this clip?

We will be discussing your answers in class on Monday.