Unit 6 - Circle of Life
Lesson 1: Biological Level of Organization
Biotic vs Abiotic
Biotic - related to living things
Abiotic - not related to living things
Biological Levels of Organization
In nature, there are many groups that interact with each other.
There are many levels in which organisms interact.
For example, some are on their own, some travel in groups of their own kind, and others interact with other groups and in different ecosystems.
Individual
Individual: A single organism of one species
Example: One wolf
Population
Population: A group of individuals of the same species living and interacting in the same region
Example: A pack of wolves living in Isle Royale National Park
Community
Community: Interacting populations of different species
Example: Wolves and moose in the boundary waters up in Minnesota interact
Ecosystem
Ecosystem: Species interacting with other species in the environment
Example: Moose eat trees = changing the vegetation = changes environment for other animals
Biosphere
Biosphere: The parts of the Earth where life exists. A collection of ecosystems
Example: The earth
Lesson 2: Limiting Factors and Carrying Capacity
Limiting Factor:
Any factor in an organism’s environment that limits the resources of that organism.
Factors Can Be biotic and abiotic.
Biotic Factors:
Predators, bacterial infections, hunters, etc.
Abiotic Factors:
Fires, droughts, floods, tornadoes, etc.
Carrying Capacity:
The capacity of individuals in a population that a particular area can support given available resources.
Exponential vs Logical Growth
Exponential Growth:
Population grows at a ____________ indefinitely.
Not “real”
Logical Growth:
Population growth is controlled by environmental factors such as available food, water, shelter, and diseases.
Lesson 3: Energy Flow and Food Webs
Nutrients and Cycling
Everything in nature is connected.
Nutrients _____________!
Animals eat other animals and plants, die, decay, process starts all over.
The SUN!
The source of all energy is the sun
It is at the start of all energy!
Lesson 4: Biodiversity
Biodiversity:
The variety of living organisms in our world.
Variety within and between species
Variety within and between ecosystems
Lesson 5 Carbon Cycle
All things are made of carbon.
Carbon is also part of the ocean, air, and even rocks!
Carbon is always on the move in our world.
Carbon is always Cycling!
Carbon is in the air as particles
Carbon dioxide is taken in by plants for food
Plants die and become fossils, like coal.
Humans burn fossil fuels, and thus carbon goes back into the air.
Greenhouse gases and their effect on Earth
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas- meaning it traps heat for the planet.
Good thing because we do not want our planet to be frozen!
But as humans, we have burned too much fossil fuels and thus have put too much carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.
30% more CO2 than 150 years ago.
Thus our planet is becoming TOO WARM!
Warmest in 420,000 years!