NEURONS!

Bell Work 1/27/2015What are the three ways that we can obtain empirical evidence?

If you can’t obtain empirical evidence through these means, how else might your obtain it?

I need two volunteers. First two to finish bell work, bring me your notebooks, I need to talk to you.

Welcome! Itinerary

Biological Components of an ecosystem

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Today’s Learning Target:

I can identify biological components of an ecosystem and explain what happens when they are absent

NEW UNIT:

Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystemaffect population

AND…

Evaluate competing designs for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services

Δ = -+

Biological (Biotic) Components of an Ecosystem

Biotic components:the living factors or organisms of an ecosystem

Predators:An animal that hunts other animals for food

Prey: An organism that is killed and eaten by another organism

Things to keep in mind:TheJenga Analogy

Ecosystems can be very fragile. The need support, security and redundancy. When you create an imbalance, it becomes very easy to topple something that used to be very robust.

Actions have consequences.

1. Producers (Plants) –“prey” - make their own food

1. Use sun’s energy to make own food

2. Photosynthesis stores energy in organism as carbohydrate

4 Biotic Components of an Ecosystem

2. Consumers- get energy from what they Eat

1. Primary consumers -Herbivores- eat producers (plants)

2. Secondary consumers- eat herbivores. Can be:

Carnivores- meat eater

Omnivores- meat and plant eater

3. Tertiary Consumers- top predator in an ecosystem

3. Scavengers- eat and start the break-down of dead consumers

4 Biotic Components of an Ecosystem

4. Decomposers- break down remains to release nutrients back into environment

Ecosystem Complexity

Ecosystem Complexity

Ecosystem Complexity

Ecosystem Complexity

Ecosystems are much more complex than you would think.

How do we obtain empirical evidence?

Since empirical evidence is obtained through experimentation, measurement and/or observation (EMO) …

you must either engage in experimentation, measurement and/or observation - - or cite reliable sources that have done the EMO for you.

How do we do these things when the populations we wish to study are not available to us?