Welcome to Life Science!
Ms. Barrett
The fourth nine weeks, students will complete their investigation into interactions among populations in a biological
community. Key concepts include:
a)
the relationships among producers, consumers, and
decomposers in food webs;
b)
the relationship between predators and prey;
c)
competition and cooperation;
d)
symbiotic relationships; and
e)
niches.
The unit will be followed by an investigation into how organisms adapt to biotic and abiotic
factors in an ecosystem. Key concepts include;
a)
differences between ecosystems and biomes;
b)
characteristics of land, marine, and freshwater
ecosystems; and
c)
adaptations that enable organisms to survive within a
specific ecosystem.
Next, students will investigate that ecosystems, communities, populations, and
organisms are dynamic, change over time, and respond to daily, seasonal, and
long-term changes in their environment. Key concepts include:
a)
phototropism, hibernation, and dormancy;
b)
factors that increase or decrease population size; and
c)
eutrophication, climate changes, and catastrophic
disturbances.
Lastly, students will investigate and understand the relationships between ecosystem
dynamics and human activity. Key concepts include:
a)
food production and harvest;
b)
change in habitat size, quality, or structure;
c)
change in species competition;
d)
population disturbances and factors that threaten or
enhance species survival; and
e)
environmental issues.
The above information was collected from the Virginia Department of Education's website. The website is an invaluable tool in learning about the latest updates to Virginia's expectations for student learning and success. I encourage you to visit it to learn about current issues and updates.
Please feel free to contact me via email at [email protected], by sending a note with your student, or by calling the main office at 853-2251.