UNIT 5: Biomes, succession and monitoring ecosystems
Significant ideas:
- Climate determines the type of biome in a given area, although individual ecosystems may vary due to many local abiotic and biotic factors.
- Succession leads to climax communities that may vary due to random events and interactions over time. This leads to a pattern of alternative stable states for a given ecosystem.
- Ecosystem stability, succession and biodiversity are intrinsically linked.
- The description and investigation of ecosystems allows for comparisons to be made between different ecosystems and for them to be monitored, modelled and evaluated over time, measuring both natural change and human impacts.
- Ecosystems can be better understood through the investigation and quantification of their components.
Content |
Core Resources |
Support Material |
Biomes and climate |
0. Biomes assignment Make notes from the biomes ppt 1. Biomes. ppt You will be shown Robert Whittakers climograph to study in this worksheet, use the climograph to identify the biome of places using their average temperature and precipitation: 2. Biomes of the world worksheet DO-Complete workbook page 41-44 |
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Succession Workbook page 82-85 |
View this animation to show what happens to an ecosystem over time: Make notes from the ppt: 3. Ecological succession Use the learning activity to check your understanding and practice some IB style questions: 4. Succession learning activity Video - Life returns to Mt. St. Helens DO-Complete workbook page 82-85 Complete the workbook to consolidate your understanding: 5. 2.4 Biomes, zonation and succession |
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Monitoring biotic and abiotic factors Workbook page 40 |
Complete the methods to measure abiotic factors that may affect the distribution of biotic factors in the workbook pages 1-6 in the next workbook: 6. 2.5 Investigating ecosystems |
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Classification and Keys Workbook page 122-123 |
Classification review from MYP 7. Classification and dichotomous keys This worksheet provides an opportunity to use and create a biological key, which can help identify an unknown (but previously discovered) species in the environment. 8. Using and making a biological key Use the worksheet sheet to practice using a key: 9. Taxonomy worksheet Now construct your own key to identify the following pond organisms: 10. Pond organisms |
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Quadrats and sampling techniques Workbook page 110, 109-113 |
Using the ppt as an introduction to sampling strategies and quadrats: 11. Sampling strategies and quadrats This worksheet outlines the process by which quadrats and transects can be used to estimate the population of a NON-MOBILE (not moving or moving incredibly slowly) species within a given area. 12. Sampling populations Now we will put this into practice to investigate an environmental gradient on the school grounds using these techniques. 12. Practical ecology booklet, sampling and calculations |
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Estimating populations of mobile organisms Workbook page 115 |
Click on the "Estimating Population Size" icon and carry out this virtual investigation, to better understand how scientists estimate the population of a mobile organism within an area. 13. Population sampling lab - dry lab to simulate outside |
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Species diversity |
Introductory video: 14. Species richness and biodiversity questions The Simpson Index is used to compare habitats: 15. Species Diversity ppt Now use the following worksheet to practice this calculation: 16. Simpson Index worksheet QUIZLET - Biomes, zonation and succession QUIZLET - Investigating ecosystems |
Video
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