Ecology
Unit Plan
Ecology
Objectives
In this unit, students will be introduced to the various biomes, understand the interdependency of ecosystems, and investigate how natural and human-made disasters affect ecosystems. Students will:
- define ecology.
- identify biotic and abiotic characteristics of various biomes.
- analyze the role of competition between animals, as well as among plants, in an ecosystem.
- distinguish between the types of symbiosis (i.e., commensalism, mutualism, and parasitism).
- explain that symbiotic relationships are examples of the intricate web of interdependence within which all plants and animals live.
- recognize how humans can impact natural ecosystems.
- investigate and describe the effects of oil spills on marine ecosystems.
Essential Questions
Related Unit and Lesson Plans
Related Materials & Resources
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Materials haven't been entered into the unit plan.Formative Assessment
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Multiple-Choice Items:
1. Which biome is known as the “lungs of the Earth?”
A
Grasslands
B
Tundra
C
Tropical rainforest
D
Taiga
2. Wildfires support the growth of which biome?
A
Savanna
B
Tundra
C
Marine
D
Desert
3. Which set of animals would be found in the marine biome?
A
Fish, algae, crabs
B
Mosses, lichen, grasses
C
Raccoons, deer, ground squirrels
D
Tall grasses, wildflowers, shrubs
4. Which of the following is an example of a biotic factor in a temperate forest?
A
Sunlight
B
Soil minerals
C
Decomposers
D
Temperature
5. What is the most likely effect of an oil spill on a marine ecosystem?
A
Increasing the number of symbiotic relationships
B
Decreasing the number of symbiotic relationships
C
Increasing the biodiversity
D
Decreasing the biodiversity
6. Which describes the outcome of a parasitic relationship?
A
Both species benefit
B
Both species are harmed
C
One species benefits, the other is harmed
D
One species benefits, the other is unaffected
7. Which of the following best describes biodiversity?
A
The number of organisms in a population
B
The variety of all organisms in a particular area
C
The number of organisms in a symbiotic relationship
D
The variety of producers in a particular ecosystem
8. When you are preparing a wet mount slide, which of these steps comes first?
A
Put the cover slip on top of the slide.
B
Place a few drops of water on the slide.
C
Position the slide on the microscope stage.
D
Get rid of air bubbles under the cover slip.
9. Which is an example of a mutualistic relationship?
A
A bird building its nest in a tree
B
Head lice sitting on a human scalp
C
A tick living on a dog
D
Bees gathering nectar from a flower
Multiple-Choice Answer Key:
1. C
2. A
3. A
4. C
5. D
6. C
7. B
8. B
9. D
Short-Answer Items:
10. What is Pennsylvania’s largest major biome? Describe two biotic and two abiotic factors in this biome.
11. Complete the chart below to show the effects of symbiotic relationships on organisms. Fill in the blanks with: helped, harmed, or not affected.
Type of Symbiosis
Result of Relationship
Commensalism
One organism is ________________ and the other organism is ________________.
Mutualism
One organism is ________________ and the other organism is ________________.
Parasitism
One organism is ________________ and the other organism is ________________.
Short-Answer Key and Scoring Rubrics:
10. What is Pennsylvania’s largest major biome? Describe two biotic and two abiotic factors in this biome.
Points
Description
2
The student:
- identifies the temperate forest as Pennsylvania’s largest major biome.
- correctly describes two biotic factors of the temperate forest (e.g., trees that drop their leaves, white-tailed deer).
- correctly describes two abiotic factors of the temperate forest (e.g., sunlight, temperature, rainfall).
1
The student:
- identifies the temperate forest as Pennsylvania’s largest major biome.
- correctly describes one biotic factor of the temperate forest (e.g., trees that drop their leaves, white-tailed deer).
- correctly describes one abiotic factor of the temperate forest (e.g., sunlight, temperature, rainfall).
0
The student:
- does not identify the temperate forest as Pennsylvania’s largest major biome.
- does not correctly describe any biotic factors of the temperate forest (e.g., trees that drop their leaves, white-tailed deer).
- does not correctly describe any abiotic factors of the temperate forest (e.g., sunlight, temperature, rainfall).
11. Complete the chart below to show the effects of symbiotic relationships on organisms. Fill in the blanks with: helped, harmed, or not affected.
Type of Symbiosis
Result of Relationship
Commensalism
One organism is helped and the other organism is not affected.
Mutualism
One organism is helped and the other organism is helped.
Parasitism
One organism is helped and the other organism is not affected.
Performance Assessment
Biome Diorama
Students will choose one of the biomes from this unit and construct a three-sided diorama. Each student will need three copies of the three-sided diorama and one copy of the Biome Diorama Activity instructions (S-7-7_Biome Diorama Performance Assessment.doc). Students can use a variety of materials to construct the diorama such as construction paper, figurines, illustrations, and natural items collected from the environment.
After students have constructed their three-sided diorama, they will write a paragraph describing the model, and present their diorama to the class. The oral presentation should include a description of what is depicted on each side of the diorama, including describing the biotic and abiotic factors, classifying and explaining the type of symbiotic relationship, and explaining how humans can impact the environment.
Side 1: Represent a few biotic and abiotic factors in the biome.
Side 2: Represent a symbiotic relationship in that biome.
Side 3: Represent one way human actions have affected the environment in this biome.
Biome Diorama Performance Assessment Scoring Rubric:
Points
Description
5
The student meets all five of the requirements:
- Diorama:
o represents the biome with appropriate biotic and abiotic factors.
o shows a typical symbiotic relationship between organisms in the biome.
o shows how humans can affect ecosystems.
- Paragraph:
o describes all three parts of the diorama.
- Oral presentation:
o shows understanding of the concepts of biotic, abiotic, and symbiotic, and explains effects of human actions on the ecosystem.
4
The student meets four of the requirements.
3
The student meets three of the requirements.
2
The student meets two of the requirements.
1
The student completes the three-sided diorama and paragraph, and one of the requirements.
0
The student demonstrates a lack of understanding or does not attempt to complete the assessment.
DRAFT 05/12/2011
