BSCS Biology: A Human Approach

Fourth edition, © 2011 by BSCS

Unit 6 Overview

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758 Unit 6 Ecology: Interaction and Interdependence in Living Systems

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758

What happens when someone cuts down the trees along a riverbank? The trees are gone, you say. But what effect does the

loss of these trees have on the river’s ecosystem? What about the birds that depend on the trees for nesting or the insects that use the leaves for food? How will the loss of shade affect water temperature and the fish that live in the river? Many organisms depend on these trees in different ways. So, how has this complex web of interactions been altered? In this unit, you will explore the concepts of interaction and interdependence in living systems. You will also investigate the issue of human influence on ecosystems.

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15

6U N I T

Ecology:Interaction and

Interdependence in Living Systems

759

16

By the end of unit 6, you should understand that

✔ a community of organisms interacts with the abiotic environment to form ecosystems;

✔ ecosystems are complex, but it is possible to analyze them;

✔ populations are limited in size by the amount of available resources;

✔ ecosystems can be modified by human actions; and

✔ human actions follow from decisions, which are made within a cultural context.

UNIT CONTENTS

15 Interdependence among Organisms16 Decision Making in a Complex

World

LaurelTech/KH Design Pass First Pass Second Pass PDF Pass

758

What happens when someone cuts down the trees along a riverbank? The trees are gone, you say. But what effect does the

loss of these trees have on the river’s ecosystem? What about the birds that depend on the trees for nesting or the insects that use the leaves for food? How will the loss of shade affect water temperature and the fish that live in the river? Many organisms depend on these trees in different ways. So, how has this complex web of interactions been altered? In this unit, you will explore the concepts of interaction and interdependence in living systems. You will also investigate the issue of human influence on ecosystems.

LaurelTech/KH Design Pass First Pass Second Pass PDF Pass

15

6U N I T

Ecology:Interaction and

Interdependence in Living Systems

759

16

By the end of unit 6, you should understand that

✔ a community of organisms interacts with the abiotic environment to form ecosystems;

✔ ecosystems are complex, but it is possible to analyze them;

✔ populations are limited in size by the amount of available resources;

✔ ecosystems can be modified by human actions; and

✔ human actions follow from decisions, which are made within a cultural context.

UNIT CONTENTS

15 Interdependence among Organisms16 Decision Making in a Complex

World

I n this final unit of BSCS Biology: A Human Approach, the students will develop an understanding

of the concepts of interaction and interdependence. They also will synthesize what they have learned during previous units and apply their understanding of this unit’s concepts to the large and complex issues of human influence on and responsibil-ity for the welfare of the biosphere.

In chapter 15, Interdependence among Organisms, the students will build on their experiences with the carbon cycle, food webs, and matter and energy concepts from chapter 9, The Cycling of Matter and the Flow of Energy in Ecosystems. They also will develop a more complete under-standing of the complexity of the interactions that exist in ecosystems, as well as of the intricacies of eco-logical interdependence. They will do this through a series of activities in which they will investigate the dynamics of population growth, the factors that affect population growth, and the carrying capacity of particular ecosystems.

In chapter 16, Decision Making in a Complex World, the students will investigate the role that science plays in the complex decisions that humans must make. The students will examine human influence on Earth’s resources. As they proceed, they will come to appreciate the dynamic and social nature of science as well as the inherent ethical implications.

Advance Preparation for the Unit

In chapters 15 and 16, many activities incorporate The Commons, an educational tool

that uses videos, simulations, and animations to help students under-stand ecological principles. You will need to coordinate access to computers with Web access for those activities. You also should preview each online activity so that you are familiar with the segments for that activity.

The chapter 15 Explore activity, Interactions in the World around Us, and the Evaluate activity, Critters and Inter-dependence, use videos from the online resource as well.

In chapter 16, the Explore-Explain activity, Tri-Lakes: An Initial Study, requires some advance ordering and preparation of materials and organisms.

Also, check the chapter implementation charts or Materials in each activity to determine the copymasters that you need to duplicate for students.

LaurelTech/KH Design Pass First Pass Second Pass PDF Pass

758

What happens when someone cuts down the trees along a riverbank? The trees are gone, you say. But what effect does the

loss of these trees have on the river’s ecosystem? What about the birds that depend on the trees for nesting or the insects that use the leaves for food? How will the loss of shade affect water temperature and the fish that live in the river? Many organisms depend on these trees in different ways. So, how has this complex web of interactions been altered? In this unit, you will explore the concepts of interaction and interdependence in living systems. You will also investigate the issue of human influence on ecosystems.

LaurelTech/KH Design Pass First Pass Second Pass PDF Pass

15

6U N I TEcology:

Interaction and Interdependence in

Living Systems

759

16

By the end of unit 6, you should understand that

✔ a community of organisms interacts with the abiotic environment to form ecosystems;

✔ ecosystems are complex, but it is possible to analyze them;

✔ populations are limited in size by the amount of available resources;

✔ ecosystems can be modified by human actions; and

✔ human actions follow from decisions, which are made within a cultural context.

UNIT CONTENTS

15 Interdependence among Organisms16 Decision Making in a Complex

World

Unit 6 Ecology: Interaction and Interdependence in Living Systems 759

LaurelTech/KH Design Pass First Pass Second Pass PDF Pass

758

What happens when someone cuts down the trees along a riverbank? The trees are gone, you say. But what effect does the

loss of these trees have on the river’s ecosystem? What about the birds that depend on the trees for nesting or the insects that use the leaves for food? How will the loss of shade affect water temperature and the fish that live in the river? Many organisms depend on these trees in different ways. So, how has this complex web of interactions been altered? In this unit, you will explore the concepts of interaction and interdependence in living systems. You will also investigate the issue of human influence on ecosystems.

LaurelTech/KH Design Pass First Pass Second Pass PDF Pass

15

6U N I TEcology:

Interaction and Interdependence in

Living Systems

759

16

By the end of unit 6, you should understand that

✔ a community of organisms interacts with the abiotic environment to form ecosystems;

✔ ecosystems are complex, but it is possible to analyze them;

✔ populations are limited in size by the amount of available resources;

✔ ecosystems can be modified by human actions; and

✔ human actions follow from decisions, which are made within a cultural context.

UNIT CONTENTS

15 Interdependence among Organisms16 Decision Making in a Complex

World

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Unit Goals