Chapter
4 Population Biology
And
Chapter 5 Biodiversity and Conservation Expectations
By the end of the unit you
should have the following completed:
1.
Be able to define and give an example when appropriate of:
Group
A: exponential growth, carrying
capacity, density dependent factor, density independent factor, competition,
predation, population density
Group
B: natality, mortality, immigration, emigration
Group
C: biodiversity, endangered
species, extinct species, threatened species, habitat fragmentation, edge
effect, acid precipitation, exotic species
Group
D: conservation biology,
sustainable use, reintroduction programs
2.
All assigned reading should be read with the goal of being able to
discuss/explain the information contained in them.
Section
4.1 Population Dynamics Section
4.2 Human Population Growth
Section 5.1
Vanishing species
3.
Have the following expectation questions answered in a complete sentence
on a separate piece of paper:
Group
1 questions
-
How are
graphs of exponential growth and linear growth different?
-
Describe
how density-dependent and density-independent factors regulate population
growth.
-
How can
density-independent factors, such as a flood, influence carrying capacity?
4.
An organic farmer does not use pesticides on her farm.
Instead of growing one crop on her harm, as many farmers do, she grows
ten different crops. Explain how
this may decrease insect damage to her plants.
Group 2
questions
1. Discuss some possible problems
for local populations caused by immigration and emigration of people.
-
How
are limiting factors related to carrying capacity?
-
In
what way is population density an important factor in determining carrying
capacity?
-
How have
humans disrupted homeostasis of our population?
Group 3 questions
-
What are two causes for a
species to become threatened or endangered?
-
How does acid precipitation
kill trees?
-
What is an edge effect?
-
How do exotic species affect
populations of native species?
-
Suggest reasons why warm
tropical areas have more biodiversity than cooler areas.
-
How does the number of types of
organisms in an ecosystem relate to the stability of that ecosystem?
-
What happens to the
concentration of biocide in the members of a food chain.
-
Why is maintaining biodiversity
important?
4.
Labs to be handed in with discussion questions written out and answered
in complete sentences:
Population
Growth Lab
Population Density Lab
Problem
solving lab 4-1
Minilab 4-2
Problem
solving lab 5.1 Interpreting data p. 119
5.
Assigned graphing exercises and be able to correctly graph according to
the given procedure. Click on the link for more information on graphing.
6.
Be able to predict the size of a population given natality, mortality,
immigration and emigration information. Click on the link for more
information on how to do population problems.
7.
Know how to convert from one unit to another in the metric system using
factor label method.
8.
Know all the metric prefixes, their meanings and how they are related to
one another.
9.
Record all material presented in class notes and commit them to memory.
Extra
Credit: Students eligible for this extra credit have all of their assigned
work turned in/checked on time for the chapter.
This assignment must be passed in before the test is taken
(maximum 3 pts on test)
Individuals of
certain species have been dispersed to new areas with dramatic consequences to
both the population and the area in which the species is introduced.
Research what happened to the following:
The
European starling after it was introduced to the United States
The
pig after it was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands
The
African Bee after it was introduced to South America
The
Prickly pear cactus after it was introduced to Australia.
Write a well
constructed one-page paper explaining your findings for each topic you choose to
research. Your paper must be typed, 12 pt. Font, no more than 1 inch
margins on any side.
