Macro to Micro Study Guide - Ecology and Structures and Functions of Plants.

Click here to access the Study Guide.

Invasive Species Videos

Informational Essay

Introductory Paragraph - Click here to watch

Introductory Paragraph Guide

Informational Essay Google Document Descriptor and Rubric

Task: You will be researching and writing an informational editorial article on an ecological or biological topic. You should choose a current event that is of high interest to you in order to share your knowledge and enthusiasm with your audience.

Examples of Informational Essays
Warming Waters in the Gulf of Maine

Invasive Species in Maine

A Decrease in Puffin Populations

Global Warming

3D Ocean Farming

Example of Interactive Maps

Ecosystems - Transect Walk

The students will take Field Trips to Sandy Point Beach and Madeline's Point this Spring.  The trip to Sandy Point is to conduct a study on the biodiversity species in Yarmouth.

Here is a link to the Google presentation to prep the students.

The trip to Madeline's Point is in conjunction with UMaine and SeaGrant to conduct a research study with Ascophyllum (Rockweed).  Students will study phenophase, water testing, and growth of the rockweed in hopes to find information about warming waters and indicator species.

Click here to learn more about the Signs of the Seasons

Three Procedures are linked here A-C

Parts of a Flowering Plant

Amoeba Sisters and Pollination

Today you will be observing and identifying the structures found in flowering plants. 

Parts of a flowering plant Slide Show

Click here to access

Text Reading found here- Wonders of Flowering Plants

Reading Question found here

The Silence of the Bees Documentary

Biomes, Ecosystems, Habitat and Niche

Video on Biome, Habitat, Niche

Biome vs Ecosystem:

A biome is an area of the planet that can be classified according to the plants and animals that live in it. Temperature, soil, and the amount of light and water help determine what life exists in a biome. 

A biome is different from an ecosystem. An ecosystem is the interaction of living and nonliving things in an environment. A biome is a specific geographic area notable for the species living there. A biome can be made up of many ecosystems. For example, an aquatic biome can contain ecosystems such as coral reefs and kelp forests.

- From National Geographic



Food Chains and Food Webs
PBS Interactive
Scholastic Interactive
Marine Food Web

Intorduction to Ecosystems

Introduction to Ecosystems

NGSS Standards:

MS-LS2.A.2 ( Middle School Life Sciences ): Growth of organisms and population increases are limited by access to resources.

MS-LS2.A.3 ( Middle School Life Sciences ): In any ecosystem, organisms and populations with similar requirements for food, water, oxygen, or other resources may compete with each other for limited resources, access to which consequently constrains their growth and reproduction.

MS-LS2.B.1 ( Middle School Life Sciences ): Food webs are models that demonstrate how matter and energy is transferred between producers, consumers, and decomposers as the three groups interact within an ecosystem. Transfers of matter into and out of the physical environment occur at every level. 

MS-LS2.C.1 ( Middle School Life Sciences ): Ecosystems are dynamic in nature; their characteristics can vary over time. Disruptions to any physical or biological component of an ecosystem can lead to shifts in all its populations.

Videos

Video 1 - How the Wolves Changed the Rivers

Video 2 - Another link to PBS Documentary on the Wolves of Yellowstone.

Worksheet Link
Link to Worksheet - Click here to access.

Article Links
Link to Current NPR Article introduction of wolves into the Scottish Highlands.

Link to Yellowstone site to help with views

Link to New York Times Article on Wolves in Yellowstone

Ideas to consider:

1. What is a biotic factor vs an abiotic factor?

2. What is a trophic cascade?

3. How does one organism impact another?