Mr. Kousen is...  Water Man
ECOLOGY

        Ecology is a popular topic these days.  The media regularly runs special news accounts about environmental problems.  The Environmental Protection Agency is a relatively new governmental group which deals with these problems.  Ecological concerns are common topics of conversation and make frequest headlines.  Exactly what is Ecology?  Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms with one another and their environments.  For example, in studying a pond, an Ecologist would determine which animals, plants and other organisms live in a pond.  He or she would then study the ways in which each organism depends upon other orgainsms for food and survival.  How organisms depend upon various physical and chemical requirements, such as minerals, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and sunlight would be examined.  The effect of pollutants upon the organisms would also be studied.
        You will learn about the BIOSPHERE, which is section of the Earth which supports life.  Different areas called BIOMES will introduce you to different climatic features of our Earth.  The diffirent cycles which drive the living systems on our planet will also be discussed.  Cycles such as the WATER CYCLE, NITROGEN CYCLE, AND CARBON/OXYGEN CYCLE will be introduced.  How energy moves through the ecosystem will be discussed in food chains and food webs.  This will explain the network of feeding relationships for plants and animals.
        To assist youe with your understanding in Ecology, several lab projects, web quests, and resource links are offered in this Unit.  Use the links below to enhance your understanding of Ecology.
 
 

THE WAR AGAINST EXTINCTION

ENERGY RESOURCES

WRITING A RESEARCH PAPER USING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

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