IB BIOLOGY SUMMER WORK OPTION G: Ecology & Conservation This portfolio is designed to be used as a study guide for one of the options that will be covered for your paper three exam. It will make an excellent set of notes to study from when the time comes. This is to be completed by each student and must be hand written. You are responsible for completing each of the tasks by August 26, 2014 Use this link as a helpful resource http://click4biology.info/c4b/5/eco5.htm You may email me over the summer with questions although response time may be slightly delayed! (sarah_e_day@mcpsmd.org). Portfolio will be marked out of 40. 40/40 = done completely 30/40 = mostly complete 20/40 = half complete 0/40 = not complete at all G.1 Community Ecology 5.1.1- Define and give examples of: species Definition Example habitat Population community ecosystem Biome Biosphere Please see the following link to read about transect line in sand dunes, and to read about the plants in the sand dunes. Use that information to help answer the next few questions. Heinemann.co.uk/hotlinks enter 4242P, click on the textbook link, click on chapter 18, click on weblink 18.1, 18.2, 18.3. G.1.1 Outline 6 factors that affect the distribution of plant species. 1. 2.
3. 4. 5. 6. G.1.2 Explain how the following factors affect the distribution of animal species: Factor Effect on the distribution of animals (meaning, how does it affect WHERE the animals are or if they are clumped, etc) Temperature Water Food Supply Breeding sites Territory G.1.5 Every organism has a role in their ecosystem. This is called the organism s niche. The niche includes where the organism lives (spatial habitat), feeding activities (what it eats, what its eaten by), and the interactions it has with other species. Describe two examples of an organism s niche. aquatic example terrestrial example
G.1.6 Competition is defined as - when two or more organisms rely on the same limited resource such as food or space. a. Read the following small excerpt concerning seals of Sable Island. Based on the information given discuss how competition seems to be affecting these two species. What other information would be relevant in discussing competition between these two species? Sable Island is a remote island about 180 miles (300 kilometers) east-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Operated by a nonprofit group called the Sable Island Preservation Trust, the island has very few human inhabitants but hosts scientists who come primarily to study wildlife. In part because of its inaccessibility to humans, the island is an attractive breeding ground for gray and harbor seals, among other animal species. The gray seals of Sable Island have been thriving, but harbor seal populations have plummeted in recent years. Scientists, including those working with National Geographic's Crittercam project, have studied the seals' mating, lactating, and feeding behaviors in an attempt to find out why this is occurring. They've also investigated the presence of sharks in the island's offshore waters to learn about patterns of shark predation on the seals. Crittercam has helped scientists discover that both gray and harbor seals feed on the same prey tiny fish called sand lances. Their feeding behaviors, however, are different. While harbor seals follow schools of sand lances and eat fish that have strayed from the school, gray seals dig into the sandy ocean floor to find fish hiding there. Sharks, including the great white shark, like to eat both species of seal. Harbor seal pups and adults are smaller than gray seal pups and adults and are therefore easier for the sharks to catch and eat. Gray seals and harbor seals both eat sand lances, tiny fish that live just off the shores of Sable Island. To catch these fish, gray seals swim close to the ocean floor and dig their snouts into the sand to find hiding fish. Harbor seals, on the other hand, follow schools of sand lances and catch fish that wander from the school. Source - http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/ccsable.html Based on the information given discuss how competition seems to be affecting these two species. What other information would be relevant in discussing competition between these two species?
b. Define and List 2 examples of each of the following. Go to http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/biologypages/s/symbiosis.html herbivory Definition Example 1 Example 2 Predation Parasitism Mutualism c. In the movie Finding Nemo what kind of fish is Nemo? What type of relationship do these type of fish show with sea anemones? Discuss how it works!
G.2.3 a. Examine the following food web. b. Using this food web as an example, explain why it can be difficult to classify organisms into only one trophic level. G.3 Impacts of Humans on Ecosystems G.3.1 a. What is the Simpson s Diversity Index? (Main points are below) S.D.I. calculates biodiversity. It takes into account the # of species, as well as the population of those species. D = N(N-1) n(n-1)
N = total # of individuals in the ecosystem n Number of individuals of each species D = diversity index a. Use the information below to calculate S.D.I for the 2 populations G.3.2 Analyze the biodiversity of the two communities using the calculated indices. Why is the S.D.I useful? G.3.4/G.3.5 a. go to http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/index.shtml Explore the site. Find one invasive species found in Maryland (other than Kudzu) and summarize the information about it here:
b. Discuss the Kudzu plant as an example of deliberate release of an alien species. c. Discuss the Zebra Mussel as an example of accidental release of an alien species. d. Discuss the Ladybird beetle as an example of biological control in the release of an alien species.