A+Local+Ecosystem

Recap last lesson Check l/p
 * __ 1/5/2012 __**

Today's Syllabus Dot points.

 * **Compare the abiotic characteristics of aquatic and terrestrial environments.**
 * Students to define the terms biotic, abiotic, aquatic environment and terrestrial environment.
 * Students to draw the following table into their workbook.
 * < **Abiotic_Characteristics** ||< **Aquatic_Environment** ||< **Terrestrial_Environment** ||
 * < Viscosity ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Buoyancy ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Temperature Variation ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Conduction of heat ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Availability of gasses ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Diffusion of gasses ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Availability of water ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Availability of ions ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Light ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Pressure Variations ||<  ||<   ||
 * For each of the following abiotic characteristics use the following keynote to fill in the important information.
 * Class Discussion: What does this tell us about the limitations of these environments.
 * [[file:Abiotic factors.key]]
 * Learning Preparation:** Complete questions 1-4, 6-9 on page 24 and 25 of the textbook.

= 2/5/2012 = Recap last lesson Check l/p

Today's Syllabus Dot Point.

 * **Identify factors determining the distribution and abundance of a species in an environment.**
 * Students to complete the light and water worksheet.

//__**Learning Prep:**__// Students to choose an animal that has adapted to one of the environments discussed in class and describe its adaptations.

= 4/5/2012 = Recap last lesson Check l/p Give out assessment task and discuss.

Today's Syllabus Dot Point.
//__**Learning Prep:**__// Students to list 3 occasions where a Transect, Random Quadrat and Capture - Recapture would be a useful method of sampling.
 * **Process and analyse information obtained from a variety of sampling studies to justify the use of different sampling techniques to make population estimates when total counts cannot be performed.**
 * Class Discussion: Various sampling techniques.
 * Transects
 * Random Quadrats
 * Capture - Recapture
 * Students to read highlight and summarise worksheet provided.
 * Practical activity testing estimating methods.

= 8/5/2012 - 9/5/2012|8/5/2012 - 9/5/2012]] = Recap last lesson Check l/p
 * **Adaptations within an environment.**
 * Students to research the Mosquito Fish (on their wiki).
 * What is its scientific name?
 * Provide a diagram of the mosquito fish.
 * Why was the mosquito fish introduced?
 * What are some of its adaptations.
 * For each adaptation, explain how it improves the mosquito fishes chance of survival?
 * What has this done to the ecosystem and how has this influenced the distribution and abundance of mosquito fish?


 * __//Learning Prep://__** Students to complete research activity and set a goal for improvement in their next assessment task.

= 11/5/2012 = Recap last lesson Check l/p

Today's Syllabus Dot Point.

 * **Describe the roles of __photosynthesis__ and respiration in ecosystems.**
 * Students to recall the **Photosynthesis** equation
 * Students to draw the following flowchart.



//__**Learning Prep:**__// Students to read page 28 of the text and identify the uses of energy by organisms.
 * What is the role of photosynthesis in an ecosystem?
 * Producers --> Consumers --> Decomposers
 * **Describe the roles of photosynthesis and __respiration__ in ecosystems.**
 * Students to recall the **Respiration** equation
 * Students to draw the following flowchart
 * What is the role of respiration in an ecosystem?

= 15/5/2012 =

Today's Syllabus Dot Point:

 * **Describe the role of decomposers in an ecosystem**
 * Class Discussion: What happens when an animal dies? Use road kill as an example.
 * What are the organisms responsible for decomposition?
 * Using page 30 of the text students to answer the following questions




 * **Identify examples of allelopathy, parasitism, mutualism and commensalism in an ecosystem and the role of organisms in each type of relationship **
 * Heading in book: Relationships between organisms.
 * Within an ecosystem organisms interact in many different ways. Some relationships have specific names and these include.
 * Allelopathy
 * Parasitism
 * Mutualism
 * Commensalism
 * Preditation
 * Competition
 * Students to draw the following table into their workbook.


 * Using the textbook pages 33 and 34 students are to find examples of each of the relationships provided.
 * **Explain trophic interactions between organisms in an ecosystem using food chains, food webs and pyramids of biomass of energy.**
 * Students to draw and label the following.
 * Food Chain --> Food Web --> Food Pyramid.
 * What do each of the parts represent and how are the interrelated?
 * What information can a food chain, food web, food pyramid tell us?
 * What do the arrows represent on a food web?
 * What types of animals have more chance of survival?
 * What types of animals are at the top of the food web?
 * What type of animals are at the bottom of the web?
 * Students to view the following website and complete the food web.
 * http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/australia.htm


 * Food Chain:**


 * Food Web:**


 * Food Pyramid:**


 * //__Learning Prep:__//** Students to complete questions 1-5 on page 41 of the textbook.

= 16/5/2012 = Recap last lesson Check l/p

Today's Syllabus Dot Point:

 * **Recycling in nature. Cycles in our ecosystem.**
 * The Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen Cycle, Water Cycle.
 * Students to illustrate each of the cycles in their workbook.
 * Students to complete the worksheet provided.


 * __//Learning Prep://__** How do these cycles help to maintain a balance in our ecosystems.

= 18/5/2012 = Recap last lesson Check l/p

Today's Syllabus Dot Points:

 * **Describe and explain the short term and long term consequences on the ecosystem of species competing for resources.**
 * Class Discussion: What happens then animals compete for food?
 * What happens to the food and what happens to the competing animals?
 * Students to complete explain question using pages 34 and 35 of the text book.
 * **Identify the impact of humans in the ecosystem studied.**
 * Class Discussion: How can the following human activities impact an environment.
 * Land Clearing
 * Burning Fossil Fuels
 * Introduced Species
 * Use of fertilisers leading to eutrophication
 * Salination of waterways.
 * __//Learning Prep://__** Students to use the summary on page 46 to complete questions 1-5 on page 46 and 47.

= 21/5/2012 = Recap last lesson Check l/p

Today's Syllabus Dot points.

 * **Define the term adaptation and discuss the problems associated with inferring characteristics of organisms as adaptations for living in a particular habitat.**
 * Students to complete the following research activity.
 * __//Learning Prep://__** Students to complete research activity.

= 22/5/2012 =

Today's Syllabus Dot Points:
>> **measure abiotic variables in the ecosystem being studied using appropriate instruments and relate this data to the distribution of organisms, ** >> **estimate the size of a plant population and an animal population in the ecosystem using transects and/or random quadrats ** >> **collect analyse and present data to describe the distribution of the plant and animal species whose abundance has been estimated describe two trophic interactions found between organisms in the area studied ** >> **identify data sources and gather, present and analyse data by: ** >>> **- tabulation of data collected in the study ** >>> **- calculation of mean values with ranges ** >>> **- graphing changes with time in the measured abiotic data ** >>> **- evaluating variability in measurements made during scientific investigations **
 * **choose equipment or resources and undertake a field study of a local terrestrial or aquatic ecosystem to identify data sources and: **


 * Students to attend Penrith Lakes field work excursion.

= 23/5/2012 - 25/5/2012 = Recap last lesson Check l/p
 * Students to complete www.socretive.com quiz.
 * Students to copy food web for AT2.
 * Students to annotate assessment task sheet.


 * __//Learning Prep://__** Students to prepare for AT2 next Tuesday[[image:IMG_1133.jpg width="720" height="963"]]

= 30/5/2012 =

Today's Agenda

 * Students to complete Benchmark quiz.
 * Mark, record and discuss.
 * Assessment task 2 debrief and discussion.