Standards

Grade 9-12 Science (Ecology)

6. Stability in an ecosystem is a balance between competing effects. As a basis for understanding this concept, students know:

ннннннннннннннннннн a. biodiversity is the sum total of different kinds of organisms, and is affected by

ннннннннннннннннннн alterations of habitats.

b. how to analyze changes in an ecosystem resulting from changes in climate, human

ннннннннннннннннннн activity, introduction of non-native species, or changes in population size.

ннннннннннннннннннн e. a vital part of an ecosystem is the stability of its producers and decomposers.

f. at each link in a food web, some energy is stored in newly made structures but much is dissipated into the environment as heat and this can be represented in a food pyramid.

ннннннннннннннннннн g. how to distinguish between the accommodation of an individual organism to its

ннннннннннннннннннн environment and the gradual adaptation of a lineage of organisms through genetic

ннннннннннннннннннн change.

Investigation and Experimentation

1. Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful

ннннннннн investigations. As a basis for understanding this concept, and to address the content

ннннннннн the other four strands, students should develop their own questions and perform

ннннннннн investigations. Students will:

a. select and use appropriate tools and technology (such as computer-linked probes, spread sheets, and graphing calculators) to perform tests, collect data, analyze relationships, and display data.

нннннннн нн d. formulate explanations using logic and evidence

h. read and interpret topographic and geologic maps

i. analyze the locations, sequences, or time intervals of natural phenomena (e.g., relative ages of rocks, locations of planets over time, and succession of species in an ecosystem).

k. recognize the cumulative nature of scientific evidence 

l. analyze situations and solve problems that require combining and applying concepts from more than one area of science.