5.1+Communities+and+ecosystems

5. Ecology and evolution - 5.1 Communities and ecosystems - 5.2 The greenhouse effect - 5.3 Populations - 5.4 Evolution - 5.5 Classification- Ecology and Evolution Labs

//This topic is typically taught on the fieldtrip, but below you'll find the usual supporting resources//


 * Assessment statements ** (IBO notes added to some points to clearly indicate what needs to be understood and what does not)
 * 5.1.1 || Define species, habitat, population, community, ecosystem and ecology. ||
 * 5.1.2 || Distinguish between autotroph and heterotroph. ||
 * 5.1.3 || Distinguish between consumers, detritivores andsaprotrophs. ||
 * 5.1.4 || Describe what is meant by a food chain, giving three examples, each with at least three linkages (four organisms). ||
 * 5.1.5 || Describe what is meant by a food web. ||
 * 5.1.6 || Define trophic level. ||
 * 5.1.7 || Deduce the trophic level of organisms in a food chain and a food web. ||
 * 5.1.8 || Construct a food web containing up to 10 organisms, using appropriate information. ||
 * 5.1.9 || State that light is the initial energy source for almost all communities. ||
 * 5.1.10 || Explain the energy flow in a food chain. Energy losses between trophic levels include material not consumed or material not assimilated, and heat loss through cell respiration. ||
 * 5.1.11 || State that energy transformations are never 100% efficient. ||
 * 5.1.12 || Explain reasons for the shape of pyramids of energy. The units of pyramids of energy are energy per unit area per unit time, for example, kJ m–2 yr–1. ||
 * 5.1.13 || Explain that energy enters and leaves ecosystems, but nutrients must be recycled. ||
 * 5.1.14 || State that saprotrophic bacteria and fungi (decomposers) recycle nutrients. ||

Discuss the implications and meaning of the this Nature News story on 'Humans are becoming more carnivorous'
 * Starter**

An alternative set of notes from [|i-Biology] can be found [|here]
 * Workbooks and Worksheets **

Steven Taylor ([|i-Biology]) has a great presentation to view and take notes from before starting your notebook media type="custom" key="24774608"
 * Presentations and tutorials **

Below are good, short video tutorials from [|click4biology] addressing the different assessment statements 5.1.1 media type="custom" key="24774610"

5.1.2 media type="custom" key="24774614"

5.1.3 media type="custom" key="24774616"

5.1.4 media type="custom" key="24774618"

5.1.5 media type="custom" key="24774620"

5.1.6 media type="custom" key="24774622"

5.1.7 media type="custom" key="24774624"

5.1.9 media type="custom" key="24774626"

5.1.10 media type="custom" key="24774628"

5.1.11 media type="custom" key="24774630"

5.1.12 media type="custom" key="24774632"

5.1.13 media type="custom" key="24774634"

5.1.14 media type="custom" key="24774636"

Biological control is a mechanism for controlling pests that is being increasingly used, but there are many examples of where this process has gone wrong this recent example of the use of Asian Ladybirds is no exception.
 * Useful extras**

The crash course videos are entertaining. Apart from being useful they also provide a good context for what you are learning.
 * **[|Feel the Love] (**Interactions: niches, competitive exclusion, mutualism, commensalism)
 * **[|Predation] (**Herbivory, parasitism, predatory adaptation)
 * **[|Ecological Succession] (**Primary and secondary succession)
 * **[|Links in the Chain]** (Feeding relationships, energy flows, nutrients recycle)