EcologyTo Those Who Shall Inherit the Earth…

Flow of EnergyLove is energy and energy is everything

What is an Ecosystem?

• Interactions among biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) factors• Let’s try to draw one

How does energy move?

• Essentially all energy comes from the sun • Moves from autotrophs (plants) to heterotrophs

(not plants)• Heterotrophs (aka. Consumers) – must consume

energy; cannot make their own• Autotrophs (aka. Producers) – Produce their own

energy • Most use radiant energy from the sun to produce

chemical energy in the form of glucose sugar• What is this process called?

Photosynthesis!

What about the other producers?

• MOST use photosynthesis to produce energy• Others use energy from chemical

reactions to produce organic molecules • Called Chemosynthesis • Bacteria and archaea

How do other organisms obtain energy?

• Heterotrophs or consumers – take in energy by breaking down compounds in organisms they eat• Trophic levels:

• Producers• Primary consumers – eat producers • Secondary consumers – eat primary

consumers• Tertiary consumers – eat secondary

consumers• Quaternary consumers – eat… guess what

they eat?

• Organisms participate in different levels

Sun

Producer

Secondary consumer

Decomposer

What are decomposers?• Usually fungi or bacteria• Decomposers obtain energy from organic

wastes• fallen leaves or dead organisms • Fungi usually break down plant matter• Bacteria usually break down animal matter

• Break down complex molecules into simpler ones• Helps cycle carbon and nitrogen elements • Use secreted enzymes to break down food

• Enzymes – special proteins that speed up reactions

Are there ways to show energy flow?

• There are 2!• Food chains – path of energy from

producer to decomposer • Food web – chains that interconnect

through multiple feeding relationships• Arrows point the direction of energy

flow from one organism to the next (What’s doing the eating) • Energy travels in 1 direction • Energy does NOT cycle through the

ecosystem, unlike matter

• What would be the simplest food chain? Web ChainProducer consumer

What types of eating habits are there?• Herbivore – eats only producers

(eats plants)• Omnivore – eats both producers and

consumers (eats plants and animals)• Carnivore – eats consumers (eats

meat only)

Is there a model for energy flow?

• Lets go back to the ecosystem drawing• Models are visual depictions that

make a feature of the world easier to understand and are used to make predictions and test hypotheses etc… • Food pyramids are models for energy

flow • Must show feeding relationships in food

chains as well as amount of energy passed up trophic levels

• 10% of energy is ALL that passes to the next trophic level

Checkpoint

• Use the following food chain to create an energy pyramid:

Grass mouse snake hawk

• If the amount of energy present in the producers of this pyramid is 1.35 x 105 kilocalories, identify how much energy is present in each trophic level• What if we add decomposers to

consume the hawk after it dies?

Assignment!

• Paper – pencil food chain lab • Complete the packet – due tomorrow• Materials• Packet• Writing utensil (no red, pink, or green)• Scissors • Glue

Biogeochemical cyclesWhat goes around comes around

What are biogeochemical cycles?• Bio = life• Geo = earth• Chemical = chemical • So, biogeochemical cycles are the

patterns that elements and chemicals move through and between biotic organisms and their abiotic environment • 3 major cycles include:

• Carbon – oxygen cycle• Nitrogen cycle• Water

How does the carbon-oxygen cycle work?• C and O exist in all organisms • Both exist in the atmosphere as CO2

and O2

• Steps• Plants take in CO2 using _____________

and convert it into carbohydrates • Plants release O2

• Animals take in O2 and release through CO2 respiration• Decomposers break down C stored in

dead organisms and return it to the atmosphere

photosynthesis

What is the “geo” part of the carbon-oxygen cycle?• Carbon is also released into the atmosphere by:• burning fossil fuels • Volcanic eruptions• Human or naturally caused forest fires

Where do fossil fuels come from?

• Carbon in the bodies of deceased organisms that lived millions of years ago were subjected to heat and pressure deep within Earth turning them into fossil fuels• Any combustion reaction (anytime you burn organic things), CO2 and

water vapor are produced AND oxygen is consumed • Burning fossil fuels• Burning wood for fuel/forest fires • Forest fires

What is the nitrogen cycle and why is it important??• Movement of nitrogen through the organisms, water, rocks, minerals,

and atmosphere• Nitrogen is ESSENTIAL to living things as it makes up:• Nucleic acids and DNA• Amino acids and proteins • ATP (high energy molecule used for cellular energy)

How does nitrogen move through the cycle?• Atmosphere contains

approximately 78% nitrogen… that most organisms cant use• Nitrogen fixation into ammonia

(ammonification) changes nitrogen into a usable form for organisms done by:• Soil bacteria • Certain plants, called legumes, have

a mutualistic relationship with certain bacteria that allow nitrogen fixation• Ex. Peanuts, most beans, and peas

What happens after the nitrogen is fixed?• Assimilation - Plants absorb nitrogen

once it is in the form of usable nitrates• Animals obtain nitrogen by eating plants• Nitrogen in animals is passed through

the food chain and returned to decomposers • In low oxygen environments bacteria

convert nitrogen to gas which returns to the atmosphere = denitrification • Marine environments• Soil

What is the hydrologic cycle?

• Water cycle• Driven by energy from the sun• Important steps:

• Evaporation – liquid to gas by energy from sun or heat

• Condensation – gas to liquid• Precipitation – falls • Respiration – water vapor produced

by cells when breaking down glucose• Transpiration – liquid to gas through

plants• Vascular plants (large plants) use a tissue

called xylem to move water up the plant • Water leaves through holes in leaves

called stomata

Assignment!

• Complete the worksheet for biogeochemical cycles• Color AND answer questions• Use the document to help you answer questions• Materials• Colored pencils or crayons• Pencil

• Due tomorrow

Symbiotic RelationshipsLiving together isn’t always easy

What is the hierarchy of biological systems?• Atoms – come together to make:• Molecules – come together to make: • Organelles – come together to make:• Cells - come together to make:• Tissues - come together to make: • Organs - come together to make:• Organ systems – come together to make:• Organism - come together to make:• Populations - come together to make:• Communities - come together to make:• Ecosystems - come together to make:• Biosphere

We’ll focus on these for now

What are the parts of ecology hierarchy??• Population - A group of organisms of the SAME species living together• Community – A group of organisms of DIFFERENT species living

together • Ecosystem – A group of living and non-living things in an environment• Biosphere– all living things on Earth

How do ecosystems remain stable?

• Population of individual species will cycle regularly and predictably as energy flow remains fairly constant• Organisms live in habitats• Depends on availability of water,

shelter, and food

• The role and organism plays in its environment is its niche• What it eats, where it eats, and its

effect on the environment

Can organisms occupy the same habitat and niche?• Organisms may have the same

habitat• Organisms may NOT have

exactly the same niche within the habitat• 2 plants may both live in the

same habitat – occupy the same niche – but they may require different amounts of light

Can organisms live together?

• Yes these types of relationships are called symbiotic/symbiosis • Symbiosis is an interdependent

relationship between two different organisms or a different species – at least 1 of them ALWAYS benefits• Mutualism – both species benefit• Commensalism – one organism

benefits and the other is unaffected• Parasitism – one organism benefits

and one is harmed

Relationship Benefits Unaffected Harmed

Mutualism X XCommensalism X XParasitism X X

Each X represents a different organism

Assignment!

• Symbiotic relationships cut and paste• Due tomorrow• Materials:• Scissors• Glue or tape• Worksheet

What about other relationships?• Predator – prey: one organism kills

and eats another• Key role in the ecosystem keeping

population sizes balanced• Populations that are too high are prone

to:• Starvation• disease

Predator population increases

Prey population decreases

Predator population decreases

Prey population increases

What about organisms that require the same things?• They compete: interact where

they try to use the same resources at the same time• Intraspecific competition –

organisms of the same species compete for food, water, shelter, mates• Interspecific competition –

organisms of different species compete for food, water, shelter

• Most successful competitors are best adapted to their ecosystem

Assignment

• Online virtual lab examining competition • Found here: http://

glencoe.mheducation.com/sites/dl/free/0078757134/383928/BL_04.html • Materials:• Computer• Internet• Handout• Pen/pencil

Why do organisms communicate?

• They communicate to their own and to other species• Helps organisms survive by allowing them to:• ID themselves• Attract mates• Warn of predators• Protect living space – territory (can be small or

large) • Many animals use chemical markers to identify their

territory• Many animals use sound to warn another animal they

are encroaching • Many animals will fight to defend their territory

How do organisms communicate?

• Sound • Ex: Whale songs, wolf howls, your

nonstop chatter

• Visual• Ex. Waggle dance in bees, courtship

dances

• Chemical• Ex. Pheromones – chemicals used by

one organism to elicit a response from another (used by bees, ants, etc…)

Assignment!

• Population dynamics worksheet• Due tomorrow• Materials:• Two colored pencils or pens (you may use patterns on your graph to

distinguish between species if you wish to use 1 pencil or pen)• Graphing worksheet

Population dynamicsWhat goes up must come down

Brief Review:

• What is a population?• All the organisms of the same species living in an area

• What is the hierarchy of ecology?• Organisms population community ecosystems biosphere

• Tell me the factors discussed so far that determine population change?• Number of predators• Amount of resources (food, water, shelter)• Number of mates• Disease

What makes up an ecosystem?

• Biotic factors – living things• Other organisms: bacteria,

plants, animals, fungi, protists (5 kingdoms)

• Abiotic factors - non living things• Rocks, sunlight, temperature,

precipitation, inorganic chemicals (sodium, nitrogen, potassium, etc…)

How do populations grow and decline?• Affected by 4 factors:

• Births• Deaths• Immigration – movement of organisms

INTO an area• Emigration – movement of organisms

OUT OF an area

• Population equation:• Pop. = (births + immigration) – (deaths

+ emigration)

• When (deaths + emigration outnumber (births + immigration), what happens to the population?

What makes birth and death rates rise?• Birth rates: • Usually higher in developing

countries• Tend to rise when there is a need for

more people to work

• Death rates:• Usually higher in developing

countries• Result from lack of food and water• Also result from lack of medical care

and sanitation (enable rapid spread of disease)

What makes birth and death rates fall?

• Birth:• Usually lower in developed countries • Increase cost in having children

• Death:• Usually also lower in developed countries• Better medical care • Better sanitation and personal hygiene• Better access to food and water

• Changes in population• If population cannot adapt to changing

environments they decline• If populations do adapt to changing

environments they increase

Is there selection for survival?

K selection (think kanagaroo)• Few babies born to an individual

organism• High amount of parental care • Slow maturation• Long gestation • Long life span

R selection (think roaches)• Many babies born to an individual

organism• Little to no parental care• Quick maturation• Short gestation• Short life span

Assignment!

Estimating population lab part 1• Mark and recapture method• Materials:

• plastic baggie• A lot of white beans• 10 black beans• Handout • Pencil/pen

Estimating population lab part 2• Random sampling • Materials:

• Paper for cutting• 2 baggies • Scissors (optional)• Handout• Pencil/pen

What limits population size?

• Most population stabilize over time or reach carrying capacity• Carrying capacity – number of organisms an environment can support

• Limiting factors – are biotic or abiotic things in the environment that control population • Number of predators – biotic • Disease – biotic • Amount of food – biotic (food is organic)• Precipitation – abiotic • Sunlight – abiotic • Amount of water – abiotic

What kind of limiting factors depend on population density?• Density – dependent limiting factor – limits the population based on

the size of the population • Biotic factors• Have more affect on the population when numbers are high• Include:

• Competition • What do organisms compete for?

• Predation• Parasitism • Disease

• Tuberculosis

What kind of limiting factors don’t depend on population density? • Density-independent limiting factors – control growth of population

regardless of density• Abiotic factors • Do not depend on the size of the population to control population • Include:

• Forest fires• Droughts • Tsunamis • Other natural disasters• Pollution caused by humans

When does a population stabilize?

• Populations are stable when they reach their carrying capacity• Carrying capacity – the

number of organisms an ecosystem can support due to limited resources

• Can change as amount of resources change

• Creates an S shaped curve on a population graph

• What’s happening to the factors in the population equation?

How is carrying capacity affected by ecosystems?• Depends on: • number of organisms living

there• Size of the ecosystem• Available resources

• Rainforests have higher carrying capacity than a desert• Large areas of land have higher

carrying capacities than small areas of land

What happens when a population does not stabilize?• Exponential growth –

population continues to grow and does not show presence of limiting factors• J shaped curve• Only population known to

currently do this is humans

How does using resources affect the environment?• Higher population = higher demand on

resources• Ex: growing human population needs

more energy more burning of fossil fuels• What has this done to the carbon-oxygen

cycle?• Increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the

atmosphere• What has this done to the planet?

• Caused the greenhouse effect where heat from the sun is trapped on Earth instead of reflected into space

• What has this done the temperatures of the planet?• Increased carbon dioxide correlates to higher

global temperatures over time

How do ecosystems change over time?

How do ecosystems change over time?

Assignment!

• Population dynamics worksheet• Due tomorrow• Materials • Pencil/pen• worksheet

How Humans Affect The EnvironmentA clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory

How has human population changed?

• What kind of growth do humans show?• Exponential (for the last 200 years or

so)

• What kind of curve does this growth have?• J shaped

• What does this mean has happened to birth and death rates?• Birth rates have increased and death

rates have decreased

How does population growth affect the environment?• Higher population = more demand on

resources• Resources are limited• Limiting factors will control the size of the

population• Population will eventually reach carrying

capacity• Researchers work to address these limits

• Increase energy efficiency and find new energy resources

• Work to increase agricultural yield• This increases the carrying capacity

How do humans affect biodiversity?

• Biodiversity – the number of different organisms living on Earth or in an ecosystem• More humans = more demand on natural

resources • Natural resource - any part or product of the

environment that is used by humans or other organisms

• Limited• When humans use them they are unavailable

for other organisms • May physically change the ecosystem and harm

organisms• Often results in loss of habitat• Organisms that can’t move often die

How do habitats get destroyed?

• What is a habitat? What is a niche?• Place where an organism lives, its job or role

• Deforestation – removal of all trees in an area of forest• Land is cleared for farms, mines, or towns • Wood products needed• Destroys habitats forcing species out• Reduces biodiversity

What if humans don’t affect many organisms?• Even the removal of 1 specie from an

ecosystem can change it drastically• Keystone species – species that plays a critical

role in the community of the ecosystem• Ex. Eastern oyster on NC coast have 3 major

roles• Food source• Filter water• Build reefs that house as many as 300 other

species• Their population has declined by around 90% due

to overharvesting• Higher pollution and decline in other species have

resulted

How does pollution affect the environment?• Pollution – the release of harmful

substances or energy into the environment • Burning fossil fuels is a major cause of

increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere• Derforestation also increases CO2

levels as:• Many trees are burned releasing carbon• Trees are no longer available to perform

photosynthesis

• Increased CO2 may increase global warming – an increase in average global temperatures

What else does burning fossil fuels cause?• Acid rain – rain that has a pH

lower than 5.6 • Produced by nitrogen and sulfur

(both released by burning fossil fuels) mixing with water in the atmosphere• Damages plants • Harmful to animals feeding on

those plants• Changes pH of aquatic habitats

What else does pollution do to water?• Eutrophication - excess nutrients (like

fertilizer) are released into water causing massive algal blooms • hog farms in NC are major causes of this • Steps:

• Nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus) wash into water• *sediment may also block sunlight

• Make large algal blooms• Nutrients are used up and algal blooms die • Decomposer populations increase• Decomposers use extra oxygen• Low oxygen levels kill off fish and other

organisms

What do pesticides do to the environment?• Pesticides – are used to kill pest

animals – DDT • Reduce disease • Increase food production• Can sicken or kill animals that are NOT

target pests• Taken in by organisms as they feed• Passed up the food chain• Bioaccumulation – chemicals are stored

and built up in tissues over time• Biomagnification – chemicals become

more concentrated at higher trophic levels

Assignment!

• Deadly Links• You will need:• Handout• Pencil/pen• A picture of your animal (grasshopper, shrew, or owl)• A plastic baggie• Paper chips

How do activities directly impact biodiversity?• Extinction – permanent dying

out of a species• Pollution• Land clearing• Overhunting• Overfishing• Introduction of invasive species

• Invasive species – non-native organism that is introduced to an area and takes over by out competing the native organisms

How does activity affect NC ecosystems?• Piedmont Urbanization:• Increasing demand for land

habitat destruction

• Coastal Regions:• Construction beach erosion• Sweeping/raking beach beach

erosion• Beach erosion makes beaches

more vulnerable to storm damage

What about fishing and hunting?

• Overhunting – killing organisms at a rate faster than the population can renew its numbers • Tigers• Whales • Many many others

• Overfishing – harvesting fish or shellfish at a rate faster than the population an renew its numbers• Eastern oyster

How do invasive species affect ecosystems?• What is an invasive species?

• Non-native species that is introduced and takes over an environment

• Sometimes intentionally introduced:• Garden flowers and vegetables spread • Pets released into the wild

• Sometimes accidentally introduced:• Seeds or insects hide in luggage or shipments• Shipping

• Invasive species can often out compete native species• Invasive species usually have few or no

predators as limiting factors

Assignment!

• Investigate the presence of invasive species in NC• List:

• The name of the organisms• The type of organism • The classification (domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species)• Origin and method of introduction• Where found• Environmental impact

• Tell class • Materials:

• Pencil/pen• Paper• laptop

Conservation Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not. ~ Dr. Seuss

What is conservation?• Conservation – careful use and

protection of resources• Renewable resources - those that can

be replaced through natural process at nearly the same rate they are used• Crops – affected by limiting factors• Air• Water• Forests – affected by limiting factors

• Nonrenewable resources – cannot be replaced through natural processes as quickly as they are used• Fossil fuels• Minerals

Why care about environmental responsibility?• Stewardship – taking care of

something belonging to others• Sustainability – ability of an

ecosystem to survive indefinitely• Using resources to meet current

needs while maintaining enough to supply future generations – sustainable development• Community planning – making things

closer to cut down on travel• Renewable energy – solar, hydroelectric,

etc • Eliminating misuse of land/preserving

soil

How do humans help the environment?• Teach awareness• Prevent and repair damage• Limiting hunting and fishing to conserve

wildlife• Fuel efficient cars • Energy efficient appliances and responsible

use• Turning lights off, low flow bathroom appliances

• Plant only native species in gardens• Less paper products • Use less water for lawns and cars• Grow and buy organic foods

What about the current damage?

• Many activities alter ecosystems so that organisms can no longer live there• Endangered species – have a

population so small they are in immediate danger of becoming extinct• Threatened species –

extinction is a threat but not an immediate one

endangered and threatened species list

How do we protect these organisms?• Laws are put in place to protect these

organisms • illegal to hunt/harvest• Restrict chemical use

• Habitat restoration – improves the conditions of the damaged habitat so they are similar to before the disturbance• Researchers look at:

• carrying capacity• Interactions of species • How widely distributed organisms are• Oyster population is increasing due to building

new reefs and release of larval oyster from farms

Assignment!

• Ecology project• Use the guidelines available on the wiki. • The project is lengthy, 5 phases• Assign roles to each person within each phase to complete the project in a timely

manner

Resources for pictures• http://www.warc.com/Blogs/Ecosystem_Marketing_%E2%80%93_3_Ways_to_Thrive_in_your_Natural_Environment.blog?ID=1696 • http://americanindianfoundation.com/mission_statement0.aspx • http://deepseacreatures.org/interesting/chemosynthesis• http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mushroom • http://na.signwiki.org/index.php/Decomposer • http://www.bigelow.org/edhab/fitting_algae.html • https://legacy.etap.org/demo/biology_files/lesson6/instruction6tutor.html• http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/session7/closer5.html• http://montessori123.com/products/herbivore-carnivore-or-omnivore-sorting-game • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria • http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/smart20121129a• http://www.wisegeekhealth.com/what-is-the-process-of-protein-synthesis.htm• http://www.biologycorner.com/APbiology/intro/notes_ch1_life.html• http://www.greatscopes.com/microscope.htm• http://rock.genius.com/2143517/The-company-band-lethe-waters/Moth-and-a-candle-frenzied-it-flies-sole-mad-obsession-certain-demise• http://ykonline.yksd.com/distanceedcourses/Courses/Biology/lessons/SecondQuarterLessons/Chapter7/7-3.html• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_cycle• http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j58nTAvgyPA/T68reE7wU3I/AAAAAAAACqk/9j7y5wNMQjQ/s1600/Volcanic+eruption.jpg• http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r2wQs4HuFR8/TdtjJ9N2PqI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/6FUjTC2dNJs/s1600/91641-050-0088637E.jpg• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal• http://www.brecorder.com/markets/energy/europe/171588-oil-above-$108-on-libyan-supply-worries-ukraine.html• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA• http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Under_Construction/Case_Study%3A_Thermodynamics_of_ATP• http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~sjjgsca/ProteinStructure.html• http://www.education.noaa.gov/Freshwater/Water_Cycle.html• http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/med-tech/4337088• http://healthylogica.blogspot.com/2012/08/tips-to-clean-lungs-of-smokers.html• http://scienceforkids.kidipede.com/biology/animals/respiration/ • http://www.paradoja7.com/alveoli-image/ • http://www.rise.duke.edu/apep/pages/page.html?000927 • http://www.wildlife-viewing-photography-tours.com/whale-watching.htm • http://feed723.photobucket.com/albums/ww240/mote/2009/May%202009/feed.rss • https://animalplanet.wikispaces.com/Megan+and+Katrina's+Invertebrate+Reflection+and+Analysis • http://shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerlab/ColoradoLifeZones_Subalpine_Reptiles_Amphibians.html

Resources for pictures• http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Moor-Frog-Rana-Arvalis-Tadpoles-with-External-Gills-Posters_i9012529_.htm• https://www.boundless.com/biology/textbooks/boundless-biology-textbook/the-respiratory-system-39/systems-of-gas-exchange-219/skin-and-gills-and-tracheal-systems-831-12074 /• http://mountainhightree.com/blog/index.php/2013/09/the-essential-nutrient-carbon/• http://anjungsainssmkss.wordpress.com/2012/02/• http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-iv/organisms-environment/organism-and-environment.php• http://www.indiacsr.in/en/tag/national-population-policy/• http://community.norton.com/t5/Ask-Marian/Cyber-Security-Term-Watering-Hole-Attack/ba-p/1004915• http://elperchero3.blogspot.com/2013/11/unit-3-ecosystem-5th-grade.html• http://www.backpacker.com/september_08_phenomenon_predator_prey/nature/12555 • http://www.ck12.org/biology/Competition/lesson/Competition/• http://1996phuc.blogspot.com/2011/04/blog-9-define-different-forms-of.html?_sm_au_=iVV8R6WZ7DnF0jpV• https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/s1/www/home.html• http://raimonsibilo.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/my-territory/• http://timberwolfhq.com/wolves-howl-video-gallery/• http://academic.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/2012_WEBSITES/mkam_site-5/adaptive_value.html• http://rdt-eoy-stuff.wikispaces.com/• http://www.susps.org/overview/numbers.html • http://www.advisorperspectives.com/dshort/commentaries/Syria-Assad-and-the-Arab-Spring.php • http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/geography/population/population_change/revision/2/• http://www.msudeer.com/carryingcapacity.asp• http://death-valley-ecology.weebly.com/density-dependent-and-independent-limiting-factors.html• http://www.bio.georgiasouthern.edu/bio-home/harvey/lect/lectures.html?flnm=grop&ttl=Population%20growth&ccode=el&mda=scrn• http://ecology02.wikispaces.com/Population+and+Community+Ecology• http://www.islands.com/wallpaper/rainforest-waterfall• http://hdwallsource.com/free-desert-wallpaper-16497.html• http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/gray-kangaroo/• http://www.thedubiaroach.com/roach-care-sheet.html• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivorship_curve• http://www.autonet.ca/en/2014/05/21/solar-panel-roads-to-power-our-cars-homes-and-deliver-internet• http://www.naturalresourceslandservices.com/home.htm• http://www.leegov.com/gov/dept/naturalresources/Pages/NaturalResources.aspx• http://web.nmsu.edu/~jfsavage/re_tree_haiti/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_oyster• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prairie_dog\• http://www.edfenergy.com/energyfuture/energy-gap-climate-change/greenhouse-effect• http://environmental-chemistry.wikispaces.com/Environmental+Effects+of+Acid+Rain• http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/A-Bi/Acid-Rain.html• http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Soil-Farming-and-Science/Sci-Media/Images/Eutrophication• http://sustainable-nano.com/2013/12/17/the-cautionary-tale-of-ddt-biomagnification-bioaccumulation-and-research-motivation/

Resources for pictures• http://www.galapagos.org/newsroom/lonesome-george-arrives-in-ny/• http://www.ourstate.com/kudzu/• http://coastalcare.org/2011/01/rising-waters-threatened-the-coast-of-north-carolina/• http://m24digital.com/en/2012/01/21/in-photos-global-outrage-by-people-who-pay-up-to-15-000-to-hunt-giraffes/• http://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/overfishing• http://nsunews.nova.edu/nova-southeastern-university-researcher-invents-software-predict-lionfish-invasion/• http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/boydmccleary/2013/11/05/the-caribbean-ukots-and-the-lionfish-an-innovative-response-to-invasive-species-threats/• http://kansas.sierraclub.org/kansas-chapter-conservation-conference-july-19/• http://netenlist.com/different-types-of-renewable-energy-resources/• http://www.ck12.org/earth-science/Renewable-Versus-Non-Renewable-Resources/lesson/Renewable-Versus-Non-Renewable-Resources/• http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/factsheets/winterrye.html• http://meridianenergy.com.au/renewable-energy/• http://theanimals.pics/endangered-specie/38/endangered-species/• http://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/unicorn-of-the-sea-narwhal-facts• http://www.mrgesa.com/Default.aspx?tabid=206• http://thinkbluemarin.wordpress.com/2009/12/01/habitat-restoration-and-holiday-wreath-making/• http://science.kennesaw.edu/~jdirnber/Bio2108/Lecture/LecEcology/EcologyPopln.html• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/476227/primary-succession

Informational Resources

• Zierdt-Warshaw, Linda. North Carolina End-of-Course Coach Biology. New York: Triumph Learning, 2012. Print.