Pre-IB Biology November 19-20, 1998

Ecology Lesson Plan 4 - Population Biology

FCPS Benchmarks

Benchmark 1.15 (SOL-BIO1, BIO5, BIO7, and BIO9)

Students investigate and understand that organisms both cooperate and compete in ecosystems. The interrelationships and interdependence of these organisms may generate ecosystems that are stable for hundreds or thousands of years.

Indicators

  • 1.15.1 Relate the concepts of individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems to each other.
  • 1.15.2 Illustrate the interactions within and among populations, including carrying capacities, limiting factors, and growth curves.
  • 1.15.3 Cite several examples of predation, parasitism, commensalism, mutualism, and competition.

Benchmark 1.16 (SOL-BIO1, BIO5, BIO8, and BIO9)

Students investigate and understand that human beings live within the world's ecosystems. Increasingly, humans modify ecosystems as a result of population growth, technology, and consumption. Human destruction of habitats by direct harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes, and other factors may threaten global stability and could result in irreversible damage to ecosystems.

Indicators

  • 1.16.1 Formulate ways of dealing with environmental problems such as air pollution and overpopulation.

Associated Laboratory Activities

Students should complete activities which enable them to:

  • 5a. Understand the effects of population growth in relation to the ecosystem.
  • 5b. Understand how energy passes from one trophic level to another as it moves through the ecosystem.

Virginia SOL Assessment Questions (this lesson only)

Pre-IB Biology November 19-20, 1998

1. A prey population usually decreases as the predator population:

a. increases *

b. decreases

c. immigrates

d. stays the same

2. Limiting factors keep populations from:

a. declining

b. emigrating

c. getting too large *

d. getting too small

Agenda

  • Return /Review B.H. Cowbird Worksheets
  • Hand in Food Chain/Food Web Lab
  • Introduction to Community Distribution
  • Homeostasis in Communities and Succession
  • Biomes - Aquatic and Terrestrial
  • Worksheet
  • Introduction to Population Biology

Objectives

  • Explain how limiting factors and ranges of tolerance affect distribution of organisms;
  • Sequence the stages of succession in different communities;
  • Compare the euphotic and aphotic zones of ocean biomes;
  • Identify the major limiting factors of terrestrial biomes; and
  • Distingiush among terrestrial biomes

Population Biology

Review of terms learned earlier:

Population -

Limiting Factor -any environmental factor (abiotic or biotic) that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction or distribution of organisms.

Range of Tolerance - The limits of an organisms ability to tolerate changes it its environment (too much or too little of an environmental factor.

Population Growth - change in population size over time.

Exponential Growth -

Carrying Capacity -

Types of Population Growth -

Environmental Limits -

Density-dependent factors

Density-independent factors

Interactions Among Organisms Affecting Population

Predation -

Competition-

Crowding and Stress -

Human Population Growth

Demographic Trends

Demography

Birth Rates

Death Rates

Age Structure

Mobility

Immigration

Emmigration

Homework: 

- Outline Chapter 5

- Make sure TI-83's are working correctly and batteries are charged.