In this unit, we learned about Ecology. We first learned about ecology basics. In that vodcast, we learned about habitats and niches. A habitat is all the aspects of the area in which an organism lives in. A niche is all the factors that a species needs. In addition, we learned about the basic ideas of ecology: homeostasis and interdependence. Homeostasis in regards to the environment is when an environment is healthy and balanced. Interdependence is the idea that all organisms rely on each other and abiotic factors to survive. Finally, we learned about the levels of organization.
The next vodcast was about food chains and food webs. Producers, or autotrophs, make their own food through photosynthesis and chemisynthesis. Consumers, or heterotrophs, eat other organisms. There are 4 types of consumers. Herbivores only eat plants, carnivores only eat meat, omnivores eat everything, and decomposes eat decaying matter. A food chain shows how each organism gets its energy, while food webs show it more accurately
The following vodcast was on population ecology. It is the study of populations in relation to the environment. Density is the number of individuals per area of land, and dispersion is the pattern or spacing among individuals. There are many factors that affect population. Some include immigration, the movement of individuals into a population, emigration, the movement of individuals out of a population, births, deaths, disease, predators, and abiotic factors. There are two models of growth. Exponential growth is where a species grows exponentially. It cannot be sustained because populations have limits, known as carrying capacities. In the logistic growth cycles the rate of population growth slowly decreases as the carrying capacity is reached. Finally, there are boom and bust cycles. When one population booms, the other booms. When one crashes, the other crashes.
The next vodcast was about the transfer of energy. Biomass is a method of measuring the total amount of dry mass in an organism. Energy pyramids show how energy is transferred. All energy is passed from the sun to producers to consumers. Only 10% of the energy produced is passed on to the next level. Since only 10% of the energy is passed on, their are future top level consumers than producers.
In the following vodcast, we learned about Ecosystem recycling. Succession is the series of events that happen after a community experiences a disturbance. Primary succession is when an ecosystem grows out of nothing. An example is Hawaii. Secondary succession is when an area that has soil already undergoes succession. An example is after a fire at Yellowstone, plants regrew and animals came back. There are also nutrient cycles. One example is the water cycle. The water cycle cycles water in the forms of precipitation, condensation, and ground water. The carbon cycle cycles carbon in various forms. It is found in the air as carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis changes it into glucose, and cellular respiration changes it back to carbon dioxide. The nitrogen cycle cycles nitrogen in various forms. Nitrogen is found in the air. Bacteria can nitrogen fix it into a form that plants can use. Animals eat the plants, and eventually, it leaves as feces. Denitrification bacteria changes it back to gaseous form. Finally,the phosphorous cycle cycles phosphorous in various forms. It is found in the sediment and in the water. It can be eroded from mountain ranges too.
We also learned about ecosystem health. A healthy planet has genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity, However, many species are becoming endangered and extinct. There are 4 main reasons. Habitat loss due to farming and development fractures and destructs a species' home. Introduced species are species from a different area. Since they have no natural predators, there is nothing to keep them from being regulated. Overexploitation is the when human harvesting of wild plants or animals is faster then the populations can rebound. Finally, climate change can change the climate that species are adapted to. We should care about this because many prescription drugs come from natural sources, and ecosystems help sustain human life.
The last vodcast was about what we can do. We can identify and protect biodiversity hot spots. We can also protect what we already have through conservation. In addition, we can use smart planning to ensure that habitats are not destroyed. Finally, we can restore what has been wasted.
I have a lot more that I want to learn about. I want to learn more about what I can do to protect the environment. In addition, I want to learn more about conservation.
In this unit, we also did a conservation biologist project. My group chose the Arctic. Overall, the project went pretty well. Other than some group members occasionally being off task, we worked well as a group. I was happy with the end result.
I also took a survey to see my preferred type of conflict management, In the end, I was deemed assertive. That sound about right. I try to advocate for my own ideas, but when someone else has a better idea, I let the group do that idea.
Finally, an update on my New Year's Goals. You can read it here. I am studying for tests better and not procrastinating. Overall, this semester has gone to a great start.
The next vodcast was about food chains and food webs. Producers, or autotrophs, make their own food through photosynthesis and chemisynthesis. Consumers, or heterotrophs, eat other organisms. There are 4 types of consumers. Herbivores only eat plants, carnivores only eat meat, omnivores eat everything, and decomposes eat decaying matter. A food chain shows how each organism gets its energy, while food webs show it more accurately
The following vodcast was on population ecology. It is the study of populations in relation to the environment. Density is the number of individuals per area of land, and dispersion is the pattern or spacing among individuals. There are many factors that affect population. Some include immigration, the movement of individuals into a population, emigration, the movement of individuals out of a population, births, deaths, disease, predators, and abiotic factors. There are two models of growth. Exponential growth is where a species grows exponentially. It cannot be sustained because populations have limits, known as carrying capacities. In the logistic growth cycles the rate of population growth slowly decreases as the carrying capacity is reached. Finally, there are boom and bust cycles. When one population booms, the other booms. When one crashes, the other crashes.
The next vodcast was about the transfer of energy. Biomass is a method of measuring the total amount of dry mass in an organism. Energy pyramids show how energy is transferred. All energy is passed from the sun to producers to consumers. Only 10% of the energy produced is passed on to the next level. Since only 10% of the energy is passed on, their are future top level consumers than producers.
In the following vodcast, we learned about Ecosystem recycling. Succession is the series of events that happen after a community experiences a disturbance. Primary succession is when an ecosystem grows out of nothing. An example is Hawaii. Secondary succession is when an area that has soil already undergoes succession. An example is after a fire at Yellowstone, plants regrew and animals came back. There are also nutrient cycles. One example is the water cycle. The water cycle cycles water in the forms of precipitation, condensation, and ground water. The carbon cycle cycles carbon in various forms. It is found in the air as carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis changes it into glucose, and cellular respiration changes it back to carbon dioxide. The nitrogen cycle cycles nitrogen in various forms. Nitrogen is found in the air. Bacteria can nitrogen fix it into a form that plants can use. Animals eat the plants, and eventually, it leaves as feces. Denitrification bacteria changes it back to gaseous form. Finally,the phosphorous cycle cycles phosphorous in various forms. It is found in the sediment and in the water. It can be eroded from mountain ranges too.
We also learned about ecosystem health. A healthy planet has genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity, However, many species are becoming endangered and extinct. There are 4 main reasons. Habitat loss due to farming and development fractures and destructs a species' home. Introduced species are species from a different area. Since they have no natural predators, there is nothing to keep them from being regulated. Overexploitation is the when human harvesting of wild plants or animals is faster then the populations can rebound. Finally, climate change can change the climate that species are adapted to. We should care about this because many prescription drugs come from natural sources, and ecosystems help sustain human life.
The last vodcast was about what we can do. We can identify and protect biodiversity hot spots. We can also protect what we already have through conservation. In addition, we can use smart planning to ensure that habitats are not destroyed. Finally, we can restore what has been wasted.
I have a lot more that I want to learn about. I want to learn more about what I can do to protect the environment. In addition, I want to learn more about conservation.
In this unit, we also did a conservation biologist project. My group chose the Arctic. Overall, the project went pretty well. Other than some group members occasionally being off task, we worked well as a group. I was happy with the end result.
I also took a survey to see my preferred type of conflict management, In the end, I was deemed assertive. That sound about right. I try to advocate for my own ideas, but when someone else has a better idea, I let the group do that idea.
Finally, an update on my New Year's Goals. You can read it here. I am studying for tests better and not procrastinating. Overall, this semester has gone to a great start.
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| Carbon cycle |
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| Nitrogen cycle |
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| Water cycle |
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