Mesocosm Assignment, Due Tuesday, October 4, 2016

One of the 9 practicals required by IB in the syllabus is observations of a mesocosm.  For this assignment, I would like you to write a minimum of 3 solid paragraphs. 

1)  Summarize your observations, using dates, which mesocosm you are referring to, and describing plants, animals, and abiotic conditions.
2)  Suggest reasons for the changes you observed in terms of cycles occurring within the mesocosms.  You may do some minimal research as long as you cite your source(s).  
3)  Do you think the mesocosm has reached a stable state?  Why or why not?  What do you expect to see happen over time?


You'll need to add this class again for turnitin.com, as last year's class has expired. 

New class ID:  13644222
Password:  mesocosm

Here's a link to a video I took of 2 of the mesocosms last week:  Class Mesocosms in action

Turnitin.com information for this school year!

The class ID:  13644222
Password:  mesocosm

You will need this to turn in SPARK lectures and the Mesocosm assignment I will give you next week.  You need to add a new class every year.

Dichotomous Key Assignment due next Wednesday, 9/28.

• Can be done by yourself or with one other person
• Make a dichotomous key to separate out 10 items of your choice
• Clear pictures of each should be provided, either on a sheet of paper or on a single-screen of a laptop
• A clear dichotomous key separating the items should be provided.  Check to make sure that it makes sense and it works.  Questions should be based on visible characteristics, not the student's knowledge of the item.
• Statements should attempt to divide items into categories, not just eliminating one item at a time
• See Fish Key for a complex but good example!
• You need to be able to hand it in, either as a paper copy or digital so I can try it myself.

9/19-9/30

• Tues 9/20:  Observe mesocosms.  Ecology Test.  Start Biodiversity.  Fish dichotomous key.  Read 5.3 if not already.
• Thurs 9/22:  Observe mesocosms. Finish fish dichotomous key.  Make your own dichotomous key for Wednesday.  Binomial naming system.  Classification Systems. 
• Mon 9/26:  Observe mesocosms.  Mesocosm writing assignment.  Due next Tuesday through turnitin.com. Characteristics of animals.  Animal Phyla Lab.   Read 5.4
• Wed 9/28:  Observe mesocosms.  Exchange dichotomous keys and do them.  Notes on animal phyla and Chordate classes.   Animal poster project.
• Fri 9/30:  Observe mesocosms. Natural Classification and biochemical similarities between organisms.  Hand out Animal project and get started!  It is due Monday, October 10.  Remember that your Mesocosm assignment is due on Tuesday through turnitin.com.

What's Going to Be on the Ecology Test (to be taken Tuesday, September 20)

Ecology Test: Tuesday, September 20, 2016

1. 10-15 Multiple Choice Questions
2. 5-6 short-answer questions:  topics could include drawing and labeling an energy pyramid, drawing and labeling a food web, calculating and interpreting a chi-squared test, drawing and labeling a carbon cycle that includes relevant pools and fluxes, explaining how Greenhouse gases cause warming of the Earth, describing the relationship between carbon dioxide levels and rising temperatures, etc.!
3. A data-based question related to this topic
4. A longer question on describing the problem of climate change:  some history, the science, controversy, precautionary principle and what it means, and possible mitigation and adaptation strategies

Some important vocabulary:  species, population, community, ecosystem, abiotic environment, producer, consumer, decomposer, detritivore, saprotroph, autotroph, heterotroph, sustainability, mesocosm, trophic level, energy pyramid, carbon fixation, methanogenesis, peat, combustion, carbon flux, carbon pool, greenhouse gas,

4.4 Group Discussion Questions for Monday, 9/12

1. List the 4 most significant greenhouse gases and their main sources.
2. Describe the 2 factors that determine the impact of a gas on its warming impact.
3. Describe how greenhouse gases warm the Earth (the process).  Draw it!
4. How did scientists go about linking temperature to carbon dioxide levels?  Do you think this method is legitimate?
5. What other factors have an impact on global average temperatures (besides greenhouse gases)?
6. Describe the correlation between rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide and industrialization.

Week 3

• Mon 9/12:  Observe mesocosms. Finish checking off 4.1 questions and go over.  Present 4.3 data-based questions to the class.  Video on Climate Change in politics.  Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect.  Carbon dioxide levels and temperature.  Industrialization and climate change.  4.4 data-based questions.
• Wed 9/14:  Observe mesocosms.  Share out 4.4 data-based questions.  AMS climate science websites.  The precautionary principle.  Group discussion on the ethics of climate change.  Ecology Test next Tuesday 9/18.
• Fri 9/16:  Review for Ecology Test to be taken next Tuesday.