Lesson+Plan+1+-+Introduction+to+Ecology

** Grade level: **9-10  ** Concept covered in activity: **Introduction to ecology topics, terminology, and insect rearing techniques  ** Colorado State Science Standards (2010): ** -Standard 2: Life Science  1.a. Analyze how energy flows through trophic levels  ** Learning Objectives: Students should be able to… **  ** Focus Question: **What is an example of a species that lives near you? Describe this species' role in the local population, community, and ecosystem.  ** Materials: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Teacher Preparation for lesson: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Procedure/activity: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Have students think of a species that exists in the environment around them, and define what defines that organism as a species. Student should write their answer to this question individually in their ecology notebook. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-While students are answering this question, hand out note cards to class <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Have students pair up with a partner, or at their table group to share what they wrote for the definition. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Have 2-3 students read the definitions to the class. Challenge the students to think if their definitions for a species would really define extinct species or bacteria? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Define ** // species // ** for the class: // a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring //(students write all definitions in notes) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Be sure to remind the class that this definition does not define all species, but is a simplified definition for use in this class. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Why does this not work for bacteria? Extinct species? Asexual species? || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Have students read their note cards, then stand up and find all the other students in the classroom who have the same species they do (students bring notebooks with them) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Have each group debate what exactly defines a // population //(5 mins) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Have each group share what they concluded <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Define ** // population // **for the class: // all organisms that belong to the same species and live in the same geographic area // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Have each student find at least one other organism that directly interacts with his/her organism (species that they eat or eats them) and discuss with that person/group what their interaction is (predator/prey relationship) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">*this will be slightly confusing to some students, and many will end up finding many different connections <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Have students list off their interactions *write all of these on the whiteboard* <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Discuss how the class as a whole represents a community <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Define ** // community // **// : a group of interacting species sharing the same environment // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Students must then brainstorm and write down all the different things that his/her species needs to survive <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-List these on the whiteboard under two different categories; living and non-living <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Define ** // biotic factors // **// : all the living things that shape an ecosystem // and ** // abiotic factors // **// : all the non-living things that define an ecosystem // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Discuss ** // ecosystem // **with the class and define: // a biological environment that includes all the living and non-living elements // || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Draw a target on the board, and label each ring on the target as a different vocabulary word, starting with species in the center and ecosystem on the outer-most ring to help describe ecological organization <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Wrap-up activity with student returning to the question they wrote down to begin class, having them explain in their notes how the species that they originally wrote down interacts with their population, community, and ecosystem <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Collect note cards <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Pass out // P. interpunctella // background handouts to the class, have them silently read about the moths for 5 minutes ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Homework: **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Student should take notes on // P. interpunctella // handout, specifically highlighting the moth's life cycle and diet. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">*have students look up the definition to // instar larvae // and include it with the notes* || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">What kind of environment do you think // P. interpunctella //live in? What do they eat? What are their predators? || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Anticipated misconceptions/alternative conceptions: ** <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> ** Species Cards: ** (Print out, cut out squares and paste onto note cards; species name on one side, description on the opposite side) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mountain Cottontail Rabbit **//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sylvilagus nuttallii //** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Colorado Blue Columbine **//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Aquilegia caerulea //** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">  || || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Romaine Lettuce ** //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lactuca sativa // ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cabbage Looper Moth ** //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Trichoplusia ni // ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gray Fox ** //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Urocyon cinereoargenteus // ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Little Brown Bat ** //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Myotis lucifugus // ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mountain Lion ** //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Puma concolor // ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">  || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Parasitic Wasp ** // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Copidosoma floridanum // ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">  || <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lyme Disease Bacteria ** //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Borrelia burgdorferi // **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">  || <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> ** // Plodia interpunctella // **** Background ** Commonly called the Indian meal moth, // Plodia interpunctella // is a common pest moth that feeds primarily on stored grain. // P. interpunctella // have an extremely variable life cycle length, ranging anywhere from 30 to 300 days; however, in ideal conditions, the cycle takes 6-8 weeks (Lyon, 2006). Adult, mated females each lay between 30-300 eggs directly onto their food source. These eggs hatch generally within 2-14 days.. The larvae remain in a juvenile stage for anywhere between 2-41 weeks. These first two stages are largely temperature dependent, with the shorter life cycle periods occurring in higher temperatures, longer in lower temperatures (Lyon, date). The larvae slowly grow in size as it feeds, and goes through five instar stages. As the larvae feed and grow in size, they shed their exoskeleton, which is replaced with larger ones. Each shedding is indicative of a new instar stage (Allaby, 2006). It is during the larval stage when // P. interpunctella // consumes most of its nutrients (Lyon, 2006). Adult, mated females lay between 30-300 eggs each directly on their food source. These eggs hatch generally within 2-14 days, and the larval stage of the moth emerges. They remain in their larval stage for anywhere between 2-41 weeks. These first two stages are largely temperature dependent, with the shorter life cycle periods occurring in higher temperatures, longer in lower temperatures (Lyon, 2006). During the larval stage, the larvae will slowly grow in size as it feeds, and will go through five instar stages. As the larva feeds and grows in size, it will shed its exoskeleton and grow a new larger one. Each shedding is indicative of a new instar stage (Allaby, 2006). During the larval stage is when // P. interpunctella // does the majority of its feeding (Lyon, 2006). As the fifth stadium each larva will pupate and will emerge as an adult. Adult // P. interpunctella // are 8-10 mm in length and typically live for five to seven days. The adult moth's primary function is reproduction (Lyon, 2006).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Title of Activity: Intro to Ecology  **
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Describe each level of ecological organization
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Define the vocabulary words: species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Understand the basic handling techniques of // Plodia interpunctella //
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo11;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Note cards with organisms listed on them with a brief description of the species on the back (class set)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; 0in margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo11;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Note cards: 6 flower, 5 cabbage, 4 rabbit, 4 moth, 3 foxes, 2 bats, 3 wasps, 2 cougars, 1 Lyme Disease bacteria
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo11;">// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">P. interpunctella //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> background handouts (1 per student)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Create note cards for class (should be enough for each student to have one)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Print off // P. interpunctella // handouts
 * ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Engage ** || ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Start class with the question: What defines a species?  **
 * ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Explore ** || ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Begin activity  **
 * ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Explain ** || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">-Have students return to their seats
 * ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Evaluate ** || ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Ticket Out the Door:  **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">on a half sheet of paper, have the students answer the following question..
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">That a species must be an animal (not a plant, or bacteria, or fungi)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">That only living factors are considered in an ecosystem
 * <span style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">That each species only has one type of interaction within the ecosystem
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3;"> Primary Consumer
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3;">** Common foods  ** : Colorado Blue Columbine, Romaine lettuce
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3;">** Common predators  ** : gray foxes, mountain lions  ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4;"> Primary Producer
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4;">** Common predator:  ** mountain Cottontail rabbits
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo5;"> Primary Producer
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo5;">** Common Predators  ** : mountain cottontail rab
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo5;"> bits, cabbage looper moths ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6;"> Primary Consumer
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6;">** Common food:  ** Romaine lettuce
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6;">** Common predators  ** : parasitic wasps, little brown bats  ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7;"> Secondary Consumer
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7;">** Common prey:  ** mountain cottontail rabbits
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7;">** Common predator:  ** mountain lions  ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo8;"> Tertiary Consumer
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo8;">** Common prey:  ** cabbage looper moths, parasitic wasps  ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo9;"> Tertiary Consumer
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo9;">** Common Prey:  ** mountain cottontail rabbits, gray foxes  ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo10;"> Secondary Consumer (Parasite)
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo10;">** Common Prey:  ** cabbage looper moths
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo10;">** Common Predators  ** : little brown bats  ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo12;"> Tertiary Consumer
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo12;"> Bacteria carried by deer ticks to host mammals
 * <span style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; 0in margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo12;">** Common Hosts:  ** gray foxes, mountain lions, mountain cottontail rabbits   ||