An Introduction to Ecology and Ecosystems


By Shawn Stewart
Purpose
?	 For Grades 9, 10, 11
?	To give an overview of ecology to students using lecture, hands on activities and technology
Ecology Units
?	Principles of Ecology
?	Communities and Biomes
?	Population Biology
?	Biological Diversity and Conservation
Principles of Ecology - Topics
?	Organisms and their Environment
?	Nutrition and Energy Flow
Principles of Ecology - Description
?	 This section will define ecology, start the discussion on how organisms are affected by their environment, as well as talk about how energy flows through a natural system.
Principles of Ecology - Objectives
?	What is Ecology
–	Ecology is the Scientific study of the interaction between organisms and their environment
–	Greek - Okios = Home
?	Levels of Organization in Ecology
–	Organism~Population~Communities~Ecosystem~Biosphere
?	How Organisms Obtain Energy
–	Autotrophs - Energy from the sun, plants
–	Heterotrophs - Energy from other organisms
Principles of Ecology Materials
?	 Text Book
?	 Colored Note Cards
?	 Web sites for instruction and additional information:
–	"http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/teaching_learning/mt&r/PlanetEarthMainPage.htm""http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Ecology"
–	
Communities and Biomes
?	Communities
?	Biomes


Population Biology
?	Population Dynamics
?	Human Population Growth
Biological Diversity and Conservation
?	Vanishing Species
?	Conservation of Biodiversity