Introduction
What do you think about when you hear Ecology?
Ecology is a branch of Biology the studies relationships organisms have to each other and to their environment.
Task
This WebQuest is designed to introduce Ecology, providing a broad view of the field before exploring specific areas.
Search the following websites listed in the Process tab, and answer the questions in the Evaluation tab.
Process
National Geographic: Questions 1-3 (in Evaluation tab) http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ecology/
Science Daily: Question 4 & 5 (in Evaluation tab) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160210134825.htm
EarthEco: watch Youth Taking Action video. Questions 6 & 7 (in Evaluation tab) http://earthecho.org/educator-resources/earthecho-youth-taking-action
EPA: Questions 8 & 9 (in Evaluation tab) http://www.epa.gov/smm/advancing-sustainable-materials-management-facts…
Questions 10 & 11 (in Evaluation tab) assessing what you would like to study in this unit.
Evaluation
1. List three different types of ecology
a.
b.
c.
2. What is deep Ecology?
3. Define spacial distribution (vocaulary tab).
4. How does plankton interact with carbon?
5. What role do viruses play in the carbon cycle?
6. What is a riparian buffer?
7. How do river cleanups affect the ecosystem? (put some thought into this, 4 sentence minimum)
8. Lookat the graph depicting recycling rates from 1960-2013. Describe the trend you are seeing with specific information from the graph (how much of an increae / decrese, and what is the difference between different plotted points).
9. Selct the link for US state and local waste characterization reports. Select Iowa, and then select the latest report. Report on Iowa's waste summary, then choose another state and compare waste summaries.
10. Would you rather learn about:
a. Invasive species
b. River ecology/hydrology
c. Climate change and ecology
d. Forest ecology
11. What interests you about Ecology?