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.
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?
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