Keystone species + ecology vocabulary

Agenda

• Brief review of concepts

• Complete guided notes on ecology vocabulary

• Watch videos

• Answer bonus problems as a group

I can describe and give examples for the vocabulary words used.

​I know I have it when...

Learn vocabulary related to ecology to describe the flow of energy through an ecosystem.

​Today I will...

Learning intentions

Open Ended

Define an ecosystem in your own words.

Open Ended

Homeostasis is a stable balance in nature. For example, a species is in homeostasis because of limiting factors that keeps its populations in check. Define homeostasis in your own words.

• A balance or stable condition.

• An ecosystem in homeostasis maintains a balance even as parts of it change.

• Biological equilibrium

​Homeostasis

• Consists of a community of organisms together with their physical environment.

• Includes biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
  

​Ecosystem

Review

​Vocabulary

• A producer is an autotroph, which means it makes its own food.

  Examples: plants, algae, some bacteria

• A consumer is a heterotroph, which means it feeds on other organisms.
  Example: All animals!

• A decomposer eats dead things

  Examples: bacteria and fungi
  

​Vocabulary

• A Food chain shows energy flow through a system

• The arrows point towards the thing that is eating

• A food web is multiple food chains put together

• Primary producer > primary consumer > secondary consumer > tertiary consumer

• 10% of energy goes to the next trophic level

  • Hint: Divide by ten (10) from one trophic level to the next!
    

Match

Match the vocabulary word with its definition

• Producer/Autotroph

• Consumer/Heterotroph

• Food web

• Primary producer

• Primary Consumer

Makes its own food

Feeds on other organisms

Shows multiple food chains put together

At the bottom of the energy pyramid

Eats the primary producer

• Makes its own food

• Feeds on other organisms

• Shows multiple food chains put together

• At the bottom of the energy pyramid

• Eats the primary producer

Multiple Choice

If there are 800 calories at the producer level, how much energy will be available at the primary consumer level?

• 8

• 80

• 800

• 8000

​Arrows point to where the energy is going or what is doing the eating!

​What does it eat?

1. What is an animal that only eats plants called?

2. What is an animal that only eats meat called?

3. What is an animal that eats both plants and animals called?

   
   
   

​Vocabulary

Carnivore: Eats only meat
Herbivore: Eats only plants
Omnivore: Eats both plants and animals!

Carn=meat
Herb=plant or grass
Omni=all
vore=to eat, devour

Match

Match the following

• Carnivore

• Herbivore

• Omnivore

Eats meat

Eats plants

Eats both meat and plants

• Eats meat

• Eats plants

• Eats both meat and plants

Open Ended

Give an example of a carnivore.

​ Cats are carnivores. They only eat meat!

Open Ended

Give an example of an herbivore.

​Cows are herbivores. They only eat plants.

Open Ended

Give an example of an omnivore.

​Humans are omnivores. We'll eat meat and plants. We'll eat just about anything!

Keystone Species

A keystone species is an organism that helps hold the system together. Without its keystone species, ecosystems would look very different.
Example: Wolves in Yellowstone.

Open Ended

Do you have any questions on today's lesson? Do you have any questions for Ms. Archer?