Biology Honors

Ecology Competencies

Competency 1     Trace the flow of energy and matter through a variety of systems. In Ecology student will:

• Trace the cycle of matter through the carbon, nitrogen, water, and phosphorus cycles.
• Trace the linear flow of energy through the carbon cycle.
• Contrast linear flow of energy vs. cyclic flow of matter
• Cite examples from the biogeochemical cycles to demonstrate understanding of the laws of conservation of matter and energy.
• Connect the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and phosphorus to the macromolecules of life (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates).

Competency 2     Identify structures, functions/characteristics that allow for the survival of an organism.  In Ecology student will:

• Define:  niche, producer, consumer, carnivore, omnivore, and herbivore.
• Identify how the needs of life are met for organisms with different ecological roles: producers, consumers, decomposers.
• Identify things that are limiting population’s size in a community.
• Identify and explain the relationships of organisms that possess various symbiotic relationships in a community.

Competency 3     Explain biological concepts using/creating mathematical, physical or abstract models. In Ecology student will:

• Create a natural environment that models ecological relationships.
• Analyze the effects of ecological relationships among the elements present in a ecosytem model.
• Model the 10% rule of energy transfer in ecosytems
• Use a catch and release or transect approach to count/analyze a population in a given area.
• Create a graph of data that demonstrates a trend in ecological data.

Competency 4     Apply concepts learned to explain how organisms and systems change over time. In Ecology student will:

• Identify changes that occur in a variety of ecosytems such as a NH forest or the Okefenokee Swamp as ecological succession

Competency 5     Cite examples of the correlation between environment, technology and the quality of life.  In Ecology student will:

• Trace the carbon cycle trough a loop including the combustion of fossil fuels.
• Identify man’s technological response to parasitic and pathogenic organisms in his environment.
• Analyze data presented connecting population size, resource availability, and quality of life.
• Define greenhouse effect as a natural, necessary aspect of the biosphere’s functioning.