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Relate the processes of succession, soil development, erosion, transport and deposition to the development and maintenance of ecosystems
Assessment Strategies
Exam, lab demonstration
Criteria
Explain the role of the hydrologic cycle in the development and maintenance of ecosystems
Describe lake and stream structure and habitats
Describe forest structure and habitats
Describe grassland structure and habitats
Describe the development and maintenance of wetlands
Define ecosystem
Test self-generated hypotheses concerning the relationships between soil development, community structure and biodiversity in forest communities
Interpret calculated Hilsenhoff Biotic Indices and other community metrics to assess the health of a stream ecosystem
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Relate the biogeochemical cycling process occurring in ecosystems to soil development, water chemistry, biomass production and ecosystem development and maintenance.
Assessment Strategies
Exam, Diagram
Criteria
Explain the concept of nutrient cycling in ecosystems
Relate the carbon cycle to biomass production and global warming
Relate the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles to biomass production and eutrophication
Diagram the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles
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Explain how urban systems differ from other ecosystems, relative to high energy inputs and degradation, high nutrient inputs and concentrated outputs, altered hydrological cycles, simplified food webs and low species diversity.
Assessment Strategies
Exam, Written product
Criteria
List the characteristics of ecosystems
Describe the urban ecosystem
List the sources of energy for urban ecosystems
Describe the effect of landfills on nutrient cycling in urban ecosystems
Describe the effect of the urban environment on the hydrologic cycle
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Evaluate the roles of various inter- and intra-specific relationships in the development and maintenance of communities.
Assessment Strategies
Exam, lab demonstration
Criteria
Define community
Test self-generated hypotheses concerning inter- and intra-specific competition in plants
Test self-generated hypotheses about the impact that a species removal will have on a community, based on food web and interaction diagrams of that community
Explain the species concept
Contrast various mechanisms proposed for the formation of species
Explain the concepts of ecological niche and carrying capacity
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Evaluate various natural resource management strategies.
Assessment Strategies
Exam, lab demonstration
Criteria
Use population viability analysis to predict the effect of different management scenarios and stochastic events on populations of the eastern timber wolf
Summarize the debate regarding the ecosystem management strategy
Assess the impact of exotic species
Explain the application of island biogeography theory to natural resource management strategies
Evaluate key components of restoration ecology
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Use appropriate resources to access information.
Assessment Strategies
Written product
Criteria
Use abstracting sources to locate scientific citations
Search relevant and appropriate sources of literature when seeking information
Select appropriate types of literature when searching for specific information
Cite literature in format identified by the instructor
Locate specific information in the library or on the internet using key words, phrases, and author's names
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Create a natural history report on selected North American flora and fauna.
Assessment Strategies
Skill demonstration-Specimen preparation
Written Product
Criteria
Collect and prepare a floral or faunal specimen according to the stated instructions
Paper details the natural history of a selected organism (niche, habitat)
Locate appropriate sources of information.
Use binomial nomenclature.
Use species identification keys.