INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY 2012-2013
RISING TIDE CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL
MR. GRIFFITHS, ROOM#140
ggriffiths@risingtide.org
http://risingtidescience.wikispaces.com
(508) 747-2620
TEXTBOOK
MILLER LEVINE BIOLOGY (2010)
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY?
The purpose of this course is to help you develop an understanding of the
interactions of organisms with each other and the environment, improve scientific
literacy skills, gain an appreciation for the natural world and local community, and
critically evaluate current environmental issues. Ecology is interdisciplinary
including areas of study in biology, chemistry, geology, and geography.
Ecology will be explored from the individual organism through the ecosystem level
and the year will conclude with applications to conservation and preservation of our
ecosystems. Along the way, you will improve field and laboratory skills from field
sketching and data collection to experimental design and problem solving skills. You
will learn how to identify and classify organisms, use scientific tools and techniques,
and work as a team to investigate your own scientific questions. Finally, you will
cover enough Biology content knowledge and skills to take the Biology MCAS
exam on June 4th and 5th.
GRADING
“Practice” = Quizzes +Activities (Formative Assessment)
Quizzes (20%)
Approximately 10 per quarter or an average of about 1 per week. Most quizzes will
consist of a few questions pertaining to that week’s lessons and should take no more
than 15 minutes. In addition, you may be asked oral questions on the previous days
lesson and will receive a 100 or a zero. These questions will add up to one quiz
grade and be averaged in with the written quizzes.
Laboratories and Activities (30%)
Laboratories and activities (including homework) will represent your in-class work
and will range from simple experiments and questions to full laboratory write-ups
and the organization and completeness of the laboratory journal that you must
maintain for this class.
“Gameday” =Exams and Projects (Summative Assessment)
Exams and Projects (50%)
2-3 Per quarter
Exams will consist of some Multiple Choice Questions, Matching, True False, and
other similar questions to test understanding of core concepts. Open Response
Questions will ask you to apply principles learned in class to new situations and are
designed for you to synthesize and evaluate information, data, or other documents.
In addition to written exams, some projects and presentations may count toward
this part of your grade.
CLASS WEBSITE AND RESOURCES
The World Wide Web will be an important part of this course. Periodically, you will
be required to visit the class website, complete online assignments, and
communicate via e-mail. Class schedules will be posted online in addition to being
announced in class. Finally, some notes may be posted on the website to help you
study and all worksheets and notes can also be found in the class-binder. It will be
your responsibility to obtain notes after absences and to make up missed
assignments. Please do not hesitate to ask for help or clarification
http://risingtidescience.wikispaces.com
ECOLOGY CURRICULUM AT-A-GLANCE
Topic (Area of Study)
Quarter #1 September 4thNovember 1st
Midterm October 3rd
Introduction to Ecology
 Hierarchical Order
 Characteristics of Life (Cells,
Growth, and Development)
 Other Kingdoms, Diversity,
Classification, Taxonomy
 Challenges of Life (Abiotic and
Biotic Factors)
Organism/Species Level
 Anatomy and Physiology
 Plant Form and Function
 Animal Form and Function
 Examples of Other Organisms
Key Vocabulary
MA
Curriculum
Frameworks
Levels of Ecology, Characteristics
of Life, Cells/Organelles,
Abiotic/Biotic Factors,
Biogeography, Climate/Biomes,
2.1-2.8
Adaptations, Homeostasis,
Photosynthesis (C3, C4, CAM),
Plant Parts, Plant Transport,
Osmosis/Osmoregulation,
Thermoregulation, Digestion
4.1-4.7
Passive vs. Active Transport
Fitness, Reproduction, Meiosis,
Mitosis
Quarter #2 November 2nd-January
25th
Midterm December 12th
Population Level
 Population Dynamics and
Demographics
 Chemistry, Macromolecules,
and DNA
 Genetics and Evolution
Quarter 3: January 26th -March 28th
Midterm March 6th
Community Level
 Trophic Structures and Food
Webs
 Succession
 Symbiosis, Predator-Prey,
Competition, Herbivory, and
Disease
Demographics, Age Structure,
Immigration/Emigration,
Birthrate/Death rate, Population
Density, Carrying Capacity,
Density-Dependent
Growth/Density-Independent
Growth,
Macromolecules/Monomer/Poly
mer,Carbohydrates/Monosaccari
de, Proteins/Amino Acids,
Lipids/Glycerol + Fatty Acids,
Nucleic Acids/Nucleotides,
Gene/Genetics,
DNA/mRNA/amino Acids,
tRNA,Codon/Anticodon,
Transcription/Translation,
Semi-conservative Model of DNA
replication, Mutation, Evolution,
Phylogeny/Phylogenetic Tree,
Homologous vs. Analogous,
Evidence of Evolution,
Gene Pool/Genotype/Phenotype,
Natural Selection/Artificial
Selection, Genetic Drift/Founder
Effect/Bottleneck Effect,
Speciation (Geographic,
Behavioral, Temporal)
6.1-6.2
Trophic level,Food Chains/Food
Webs, Niche/Habitat
Symbiosis/Commensalism/Mutu
alism/Parasitism,The Human
Food Chain, invasive Species
Decomposer/Primary
Producer/Consumer (Primary,
Secondary, Tertiary),
Photosynthesis/Cellular
Respiration,
6.3
1.1-1.3
3.1-3.6
5.1-5.3
10% Rule, First Law of
Thermodynamics/Second Law of
Thermodynamics, Keystone
Species, Top-down/Bottom-up
Control,
Quarter 4: March 29th-June 7th
Midterm May 15th
Ecosystem and Biosphere Levels
 Biogeochemical Cycles
 Climate Change
 Biodiversity
 Habitat Loss
Energy/Matter/Biogeochemical
Cycles, Water, Carbon, Nitrogen,
Phosphorous,
The Tragedy of the Commons
Conservation,
Biology/Conservation/Preservati
on/Sustainability,
Threatened Species/Endangered
Species
6.4
Review for Biology MCAS
1-6
 Various Review Topics and
Practice Questions
*NOTE: SOME VARIATION AND ADJUSTMENTS IN THE CURRICULUM MAY OCCUR
DUE TO SCHEDULE CHANGES