Key Concepts: After completing the ecology unit, students should be able to explain and apply Key Concepts
A, B and C through the specific Learning Objectives defined for each Concept. (download study guide as pdf) |
| A. |
The distribution and abundance of organisms is determined by the interactions between organisms,
and between organisms and the non-living environment. |
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A1. |
Discuss the characteristics of populations, such as number of individuals, age structure, density,
and pattern of distribution. |
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A2. |
Explain the general distribution of life in aquatic systems as a function of chemistry, geography,
light, depth, salinity, and temperature. |
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A3. |
Discuss how various oceanic and freshwater processes, such as currents, tides, and waves, affect
the abundance of aquatic organisms. |
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A4. |
Describe changes in ecosystems resulting from seasonal variations, climate change and succession. |
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A5. |
Analyze how population size is determined by births, deaths, immigration, emigration, and limiting
factors (biotic and abiotic) that determine carrying capacity. |
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A6. |
Compare and contrast the relationships among organisms, including predation, parasitism,
competition, commensalism, and mutualism. |
| B. |
Energy and nutrients move within and between biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems via
physical, chemical and biological processes. |
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B1. |
Characterize the biotic and abiotic components that define freshwater systems, marine systems and
terrestrial systems. |
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B2. |
Use a food web to identify and distinguish producers, consumers, and decomposers. Explain the
pathway of energy transfer through trophic levels and the reduction of available energy at
successive trophic levels. |
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B3. |
Diagram and explain the biogeochemical cycles of an ecosystem, including water, carbon, and
nitrogen cycle. |
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B4. |
Describe how different natural resources are produced and how their rates of use and renewal limit
availability. |
| C. |
Human activities and natural events can have profound effects on populations, biodiversity and
ecosystem processes. |
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C1. |
Recognize the consequences of the losses of biodiversity due to catastrophic events, climate
changes, human activity, and the introduction of invasive, non-native species. |
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C2. |
Evaluate the costs and benefits of renewable and nonrenewable resources, such as water, energy,
fossil fuels, wildlife, and forests. |
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C3. |
Discuss the political, social, and environmental consequences of sustainable use of land. |
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C4. |
Discuss the need for adequate monitoring of environmental parameters when making policy
decisions. |
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C5. |
Assess the need for adequate waste management strategies. |
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C6. |
Discuss the effects of technology on environmental quality. |
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C7. |
Discuss the large-scale environmental impacts resulting from human activity, including waste
spills, oil spills, runoff, greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, and surface and groundwater pollution. |
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C8. |
Assess the effectiveness of innovative methods of protecting the environment. |
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C9. |
Describe how human population size and resource use relate to environmental quality. |
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C10. |
Predict the impact of individuals on environmental systems and examine how human lifestyles
affect sustainability. |