Populations
And
Ecosystems
Poetry Book
Systems
When you think of systems,
think of parts of a whole,
working together,
with one common goal.
Inputs
The inputs go in,
the outputs go out,
and inside the system,
transformations come about.
When energy is transferred,
like when matter changes phase,
mass must be conserved,
this law everything obeys.
Transformation / Energy Transfers
Transformations – what are they?
A change in what you see –
from chemical reactions
to leaves falling from a tree.
When you think of systems,
think of parts of a whole,
working together,
with one common goal.
The inputs go in,
the outputs go out,
and inside the system,
transformations come about.
Outputs
I Know Organic Matter
I know organic matter,
Dead organic matter,
Decaying plants and animals,
That break down into nutrients.
Small organic matter,
Decaying dead leaves,
Decomposing dead insects,
Rotting rats and rodents.
I know organic matter,
Broken down by worms,
Broken down by bacteria,
Becoming nutrients for plants.
Levels in Ecosystems Chant
By Susan Radford
Is this an individual?
Is this an individual?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
It’s only one animal.
It’s only one plant.
One milkweed bug.
One maple tree.
Is this a population?
Is this a population?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
There are many individuals.
They are all one species.
A pod of whales.
A stand of oak trees.
Is this a community?
Is this a community?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
There’s more than one species.
Different species live together.
Guppies and Elodea.
Ants tending aphids.
Is this an ecosystem?
Is this an ecosystem?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
There are animals and plants.
There are abiotic factors.
Frogs and lily pads in a pond.
Bees and flowers in the sun.
Is this an abiotic factor?
Is this an abiotic factor?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
It’s a non-living thing.
It has never been alive.
The oxygen in the air.
The rocks in the soil.
Did you tell me true?
Is this chant through?
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
I Know An Unusual Ecosystem
By Susan Radford
I know an unusual ecosystem,
An alkaline lake ecosystem,
An extremely saline ecosystem,
Known as Mono Lake.
With planktonic and benthic algae;
The producers of the lake;
Food for brine shrimp and brine flies
That refuel migratory birds.
I know an unusual ecosystem,
An alkaline lake ecosystem,
An extremely saline ecosystem,
That’s thrice as salty as seawater.
Vocabulary:
alkaline –
benthic -
saline –
migratory -
planktonic –
thrice -
THE FOOD CHAIN
If you’re Happy and you Know It
The food chain is a series of events CLAP! CLAP!
Where organisms eat each other up CLAP! CLAP!
But if everything gets eaten or killed or almost gone,
They’ll be added to the endangered species list. CLAP! CLAP!
Herbivores are eating only plants CLAP! CLAP!
Carnivores eat other animals CLAP! CLAP!
But omnivores are hungry every day and every night
So they eat up both the plants and animals. CLAP! CLAP!
Kelly Hom 02 M. Dougherty Co. 03
Trophic Levels Chant
By Susan Radford
Is this a producer?
Is this a producer?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
It makes its’ own food.
It uses photosynthesis.
Algae and seaweed.
Grasses and shrubs.
Is this an herbivore?
Is this an herbivore?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
It eats only plants.
It’s a primary consumer.
Mice and elephants.
Caterpillars and deer.
Is this a carnivore?
Is this a carnivore?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
It only eats meat.
It’s a secondary consumer.
Wolves and spiders.
Snakes and hawks.
Is this a decomposer?
Is this a decomposer?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
It eats the remains of dead plants.
It consumes dead animals.
Bacteria and mushrooms.
Bacteria and fungi.
Is this a detritivore?
Is this a detritivore?
How do you know?
How do you know?
Give me an example.
Give me an example.
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
It eats dead organic matter.
It eats detritus and feces.
Worms and maggots.
Termites and beetle larvae.
Did you tell me true?
Is this chant through?
Yes Ma’am.
Yes Ma’am.
I Know the Flow of Energy
By Susan Radford
I know the flow of energy,
That starts with the sun,
Energy captured by plants,
To produce carbohydrates.
With the process of photosynthesis,
In the presence of light and chlorophyll,
Combining CO2 and water
To make carbs and O2.
I know the flow of energy,
It starts with the sun,
The producers capture the energy,
To create biomass.
Limiting Factors Marine Cadence
By Susan Radford
I just know what I’ve been told,
Population sizes must be controlled.
Limiting factors control the size,
Understanding these will make you wise.
Sound off! Biotic limits!
Sound off! Abiotic limits!
Sound off! 1 - 2 - 3 - 4: Limiting Factors!
Predators keep the numbers down,
By eating prey that they have found.
Diseases limit numbers, too.
Killing in numbers - either many or few.
Sound off! Predation!
Sound off! Biotic limits!
Sound off! 1 - 2 - 3 - 4: Limiting Factors!
Food supply is the resource
Allowing growth to stay on course.
When there is a lack of food
Animals starve or can’t feed their brood.
Sound off! Resources!
Sound off! Biotic limits!
Sound off! 1 - 2 - 3 - 4: Limiting Factors!
Location, water, temperature, light The physical conditions must be right,
To reproduce, make seeds, give birth
It’s necessary for all species on Earth.
Sound off! Environment!
Sound off! Abiotic limits!
Sound off! 1 - 2 - 3 - 4: Limiting Factors!
Winter affects most populations,
The season is the limitation.
Rain and snow and wind fluctuations,
Trigger dormancy and winter migrations.
Sound off! Seasons! Sound off! Abiotic limits!
Sound off! 1 - 2 - 3 - 4: Limiting Factors!
Adaptations Here, Adaptations There
Adaptations here, adaptations there
Adaptations, adaptations everywhere!
Colorful adaptations protecting,
Successful adaptations surviving,
Camouflaging adaptations disguising,
Different adaptations thriving.
Adaptations
Adaptations
Adaptations
Adaptations
in
in
in
in
every organism,
every ecosystem,
different structures,
certain behaviors.
Adaptations here, adaptations there
Adaptations, adaptations everywhere!
Adaptations! Adaptations! Adaptations!
ECOLOGY MARINE CADENCE
We just know what we’ve been told,
Ecosystems tell how life unfolds.
Water, air, soil, rocks, and light,
Are the non-living things, which are right.
Sound off, ecosystem! Sound off, non-living!
Sound off 1, 2, 3, 4 – ECOLOGY!
Ecosystems have two parts
Not like any shopping mart.
Living things are plants and such,
Non-living things you can touch.
Sound off, non-living! Sound off, living things!
Sound off 1, 2, 3, 4 – ECOLOGY!
Living parts form communities
Plants and animals, snakes and trees.
Live together in environments
Close by they are dependent.
Sound off, ecosystem! Sound off, community!
Sound off 1, 2, 3, 4 – ECOLOGY!
Populations are one type
Of organisms, that’s our hype.
Each one lives in it’s own habitat
Homes like ponds, soil, trees, and that.
Sound off, population! Sound off, habitats!
Sound off 1, 2, 3, 4 – ECOLOGY!
Ecosystems contain these things
Start with living and non-living.
Communities and populations
And habitats are all relations
Sound off, ecosystem! Sound off, ecologists!
Sound off 1, 2, 3, 4 – THAT’S US
M. Dougherty Co. 03
Little Banana Slug
Little Banana Slug
moving through the woods. Uh, huh!
Traveling on slug slime,
don’t you wish you could? Uh, huh!
How many adaptations do you have?
One, two, three, four,
Slime on my skin, keeps me moist and more.
Five, six, seven, eight
Since I breathe through my skin,
The moisture sure is great.
Nine, ten, eleven, twelve,
My color adaptations help me where I dwell.
Little Banana Slug
moving through the woods. Uh, huh!
Traveling on slug slime,
don’t you wish you could? Uh, huh!
The Finch Speaks of Adaptations
By Susan Radford
I’ve known adaptations:
I’ve known adaptations
ancient as the Galapagos and
diverse as the community of finches.
My species has evolved,
isolated over time,
generation to generation.
We varied large, strong beaks
and small, tiny beaks.
We ate,
cracking large seeds
with large, strong beaks.
We fed,
gathering numerous small seeds
with small, tiny beaks.
We evolved, isolated with our seeds,
large or small. The feeding advantage:
small seeds and small beaks,
large seeds and large beaks.
I’ve known adaptations:
ancient, diverse adaptations.
My species evolved,
ancient finches isolated over time,
generation to generation.
Now we are 13.