GOAL #1: SCIENTIFIC METHODS 1.01 - Identify biological questions and problems that can be answered through scientific investigations. 1.02 - Design and conduct scientific investigations to answer biological questions. Create testable hypotheses. Identify variables. Use a control or comparison group when appropriate. Select and use appropriate measurement tools. Collect and record data. Organize data into charts and graphs. Analyze and interpret data. Communicate findings. scientific methods: common steps that scientists use to do research and answer questions: 1.03 - Formulate and revise scientific explanations and models of biological phenomena using logic and evidence to: Explain observations. Make inferences and predictions. Explain the relationship between evidence and explanation. control: in an experiment, the standard against which results are compared data: information gathered from an experiment dependent variable: the condition in an experiment that results from the changes made to the independent variable experiment: an investigation that tests a hypothesis by collecting information under controlled conditions hypothesis: an explanation for a question or problem that can be tested independent variable: in an experiment, the condition that is tested because it affects the outcome of the experiment Observe, Ask a Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Collect Data, Organize & Analyze Results, Revise Hypothesis, Publish Results theory: an explanation of a natural phenomenon or event that is supported by a large body of scientific evidence obtained from many different investigations and observations 1.04 - Apply safety procedures in the laboratory and in field studies: Recognize and avoid potential hazards. Safely manipulate materials and equipment needed for scientific investigations. 1.05 - Analyze reports of scientific investigations from an informed, scientifically literate viewpoint including considerations of: Appropriate sample. Adequacy of experimental controls. Replication of findings Alternative interpretations of the data. adaptation: any structure, behavior, or internal process that enables an organism to respond to environmental factors and survive to produce offspring biology: the study of life that seeks to provide an understanding of the natural world development: the changes that take place during an organism s life; one of the characteristics of all living things energy: the ability to cause change environment: the surroundings to which an organism must adjust; includes air, water, weather, temperature, organisms, and other factors evolution: gradual change in a species through adaptations over time growth: changes in an organism resulting in an increase in the amount of living material and the formation of new structures; one of the characteristics of all living things homeostasis: an organism s ability to control its internal environment to maintain conditions suitable for survival organism: anything that possesses all the characteristics of life organization: the orderly structure of cells in an organism; one of the characteristics of all living things reproduction: the production of offspring; a characteristic of all living things response: an organism s reaction to a change in its environment species: a group of organisms capable of mating with each other and producing offspring who can also reproduce stimulus: anything in the environment that causes an organism to react
GOAL #5: ecology 5.01 Investigate and analyze the interrelationships among organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems. Techniques of field ecology. o Recognize and describe Field Ecology techniques. o Specifically: Sampling and Quadrant Studies. Abiotic and biotic factors. o Understand the difference between biotic and abiotic factors. o Explain how biotic and abiotic relationships are related and their importance in the balance of an ecosystem. o Given a diagram or paragraph illustrating an ecosystem, identify which items are biotic and which are abiotic Symbiotic Relationships. o Describe / give examples of Mutualism, Commensalism, & Parasitism. (DRAW THE SMILEYS) o Recognize and describe predator / prey relationships. o Recognize and predict carrying capacity patterns as a result of predator prey relationships. Carrying capacity. o Identify and describe limiting factors. o Analyze how limiting factors influence carrying capacity. o Given a diagram or illustration, recognize the difference between primary and secondary succession. o Interpret population growth graphs. o Recognize an S shaped population growth curve indicates reaching carrying capacity. o Accurately read carrying capacity number using a graph. o Recognize that a J shaped curve represents exponential growth. o Understand the general characteristics of the types of organisms that display S and J shaped curves. abiotic factors: nonliving parts of an organism s environment; air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil are examples biological community: a community made up of interacting populations in a certain area at a certain time biosphere: portion of Earth that supports life; extends from high in the atmosphere to the bottom of the oceans biotic factors: all the living organisms that inhabit an environment commensalism: symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor benefits ecology: scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environments ecosystem: interactions among populations in a community and the community s physical surroundings, or abiotic factors habitat: place where an organism lives out its life mutualism: symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit niche: all strategies and adaptations a species uses in its environment; includes all biotic and abiotic interactions as an organism meets its needs for survival and reproduction parasitism: symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of another population: group of organisms of the same species that interbreeds and lives in the same place at the same time symbiosis: permanent, close association between two or more organisms of different species climax community: a stable community that undergoes little or no change limiting factor: any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms primary succession: colonization of barren land by pioneer organisms secondary succession: sequence of changes that take place after a community is disrupted by natural disasters or human actions succession (suk SE shun): the orderly, natural changes that take place in the communities of an ecosystem tolerance: the ability of an organism to withstand changes in biotic and abiotic environmental factors carrying capacity: the number of organisms of one species that an environment can support indefinitely; populations below carrying capacity tend to increase; those above carrying capacity tend to decrease density-dependent factors: limiting factors, such as disease, parasites, or food availability, that affect growth of a population density-independent factors: factors, such as temperature, storms, floods, drought, or habitat disruption, that affect all populations, regardless of their density exponential growth: growth pattern where a population grows faster as it increases in size; a graph of an exponentially growing population resembles a J- shaped curve life-history pattern: an organism s pattern of reproduction; may be rapid or slow
5.02 Analyze the flow of energy and the cycling of matter in the ecosystem. Trophic levels - direction and efficiency of energy transfer. o Identify producers and consumers in an ecosystem. o Identify and compare omnivores, carnivores, and herbivores as consumers. o Recognize that energy flow through an ecosystem is represented by a food chain. o Arrange a food chain in the proper order of trophic levels. o Understand what trophic levels represent and the number, biomass, and energy represented at each level. o Understand the efficiency of energy use and transfer between levels 10%. o Recognize the role of decomposers in the energy pyramid. autotrophs: organisms that use energy from the sun or energy stored in chemical compounds to make their own nutrients decomposers: organisms, such as fungi and bacteria, which break down and absorb nutrients from dead organisms food chain: a simple model that shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem food web: a model that shows all the possible feeding relationships at each trophic level in a community heterotrophs: organisms that cannot make their own food and must feed on other organisms for energy and nutrients Relationship of the carbon cycle to photosynthesis and cellular respiration. o Understand the flow of carbon between producers and consumers o Understand how carbon is transferred between organisms. o Understand the return of carbon to earth by respiration, decomposition and excretion. o Understand the Water Cycle biomass: the total mass or weight of all living matter in a given area trophic level: an organism that represents a feeding step in the movement of energy and materials through an ecosystem
5.03 Assess human population and its impact on local ecosystems and global environments: Historic and potential changes in population. o Analyze a human population growth graph. Factors associated with those changes. o Discuss factors that influence human population growth or decline including birth rate, death rate, immigration, and emigration. o Understand the concept of population density. o Recognize that the principal cause of acid rain comes from human sources. o Investigate the causes of habitat destruction and the effects on the ecosystem. o Know that introducing non-native species can lead to the spread of disease, competition for food and space, and reduction in biodiversity. Climate change. o Understand the concept of the greenhouse effect. o Know that burning fossil fuels increases CO2 in the atmosphere and contributes to global warming. o Know that the use of chloroflurocatrbons {CFC} have been directly linked to the rapid depletion of ozone in our atmosphere. Resource use. o Sustainable practices/stewardship. age structure: proportions of a population that are at different age levels birthrate: number of live births per 1000 population in a given year death rate: number of deaths per 1000 population in a given year demography (de MAH gra fee): study of population characteristics such as growth rate, age structure, and geographic distribution doubling time: time needed for a population to double in size acid precipitation: rain, snow, sleet, or fog with a low ph, which causes damage to forests, lakes, statues, and buildings biodiversity: the variety of species in a particular area edge effects: different environmental conditions that occur along the boundaries of a habitat endangered species: a species in which the number of individuals becomes so low that extinction is possible exotic species: species that are not native to an area extinction: the disappearance of a species when the last of its members dies habitat degradation: damage to a habitat by air, water, and land pollution habitat fragmentation: the separation of wilderness areas from other wilderness areas ozone layer: a region of Earth s atmosphere between 15 km and 35 km altitude threatened species: a species that is likely to become endangered captivity: when people keep members of a species in zoos or other conservation facilities conservation biology: field of biology that studies methods and carrying out ways to protect biodiversity habitat corridors: natural strips of land that allow the migration of organisms from one wilderness area to another natural resources: those things in the environment that are useful or needed for living organisms reintroduction programs: programs that take members of an endangered species and breed and raise them in protected habitats; when many of the organisms have been raised, they are released back into the area where they would naturally live sustainable use: philosophy that promotes letting people use resources in wilderness areas in ways that will benefit them and maintain the ecosystem
GOAL #2: CHEMICAL AND CELLULAR BASIS FOR LIFE 2.01 Compare and contrast the structure and functions of the following organic molecules: Carbohydrates. o Explain the role of carbohydrates in organisms. o Interpret test results for organic compounds and recognize a positive test for monosaccharides [Benedict s] and complex carbohydrates (starch) [Iodine]. o Understand the construction of carbohydrates from subunits [1-2-1 ratio]. o Explain the significance of starch, glycogen, cellulose, and glucose in living things. Lipids. o Explain the role of lipids in organisms. o Interpret test results for organic compounds and recognize a positive test for lipids (brown paper, hydrophobic). o Understand the lipids are made of subunits called fatty acids and glycerol. o Explain the significance of fats in organisms. carbohydrates: organic compounds used by cells to store and release energy; composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen lipids: large organic compounds made mostly of carbon and hydrogen with a small amount of oxygen; examples are fats, oils, waxes, and steroids; are insoluble in water and used by cells for energy storage, insulation, and protective coatings, such as in membranes Proteins. o Explain the role of proteins in organisms. o Interpret test results for organic compounds and recognize a positive test for proteins [Biurets]. o Understand that proteins are made of subunits (Amino Acids) and the importance of their shape. o Explain the significance of insulin, hemoglobin, and enzymes in living organisms. Nucleic acids. o Explain the role of nucleic acids in organisms. o Understand that nucleic acids are made of subunits called nucleotide and the importance of their shape. o Explain the significance of DNA and RNA in living organisms. NUCLEOTIDE enzyme: type of protein found in all living things that changes the speed of chemical reactions nucleic acid: complex biomolecules, such as RNA and DNA, that store cellular information in cells in the form of a code nucleotides: subunits of nucleic acid formed from a simple sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base proteins: large, complex biomolecules essential to all life composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur; provide structure for tissues and organs and help carry out cell metabolism
2.02 Investigate and describe the structure and functions of cells including: Cell organelles. o Be able to locate and explain the structure of the nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast, vacuole, ribosome, cell wall, and plasma membrane. o Describe the function of each of the previous cell organelles. o Understand the historical implications of the discovery of cells and the development of the cell theory. o Leeuwenhook & Hooke, Schleiden & Schwann o Explain the proper techniques for use of a light microscope and determination of total magnification. cell: the basic unit of all living things cell theory: theory that states all organisms are made of one or more cells; the cell is the basic unit of organisms; and all cells come from preexisting cells compound light microscope: microscope using a series of light and lenses to magnify objects electron microscope: microscope using a beam of electrons instead of lenses to magnify objects eukaryote: unicellular or multicellular organisms (like yeast, plants, and animals) that contain a nucleus and membranebound organelles nucleus: the cell organelle that controls the cell s activities and contains DNA organelle: membrane-bound structures with particular functions within some cells prokaryote: unicellular organisms (like bacteria) that lack membrane-bound organelles cell wall: rigid wall outside the plasma membrane for additional support and protection chlorophyll: green pigment that traps light energy and gives leaves and stems their green color chloroplast: organelles that capture light energy and convert it to chemical energy chromatin: strands of DNA containing directions for making proteins cilia: short, hair-like projections on a cell s surface, with an oarlike motion cytoplasm: clear, jelly-like fluid inside a cell endoplasmic reticulum: site of cellular chemical reactions flagella: longer projections on a cell s surface, with a whip-like motion Golgi apparatus: an organelle that sorts proteins into packages and packs them into vesicles lysosome: organelles that remove waste from the cell mitochondria: organelles in plants and animals that transform energy for the cell nucleolus: organelle within the nucleus that makes ribosomes ribosome: site where DNA makes protein vacuole: membrane-bound compartments for temporary storage of material phospholipid (fahs foh LIH pid): a large molecule with a glycerol backbone, two fatty acid chains, and a phosphate group plasma membrane: the flexible boundary of a cell selective permeability: a process in which a membrane selectively allows some molecules to pass through while keeping others out of the cell Cell specialization. o List the hierarchy of cell specialization: cells, tissue, organ, organ system, organism. o Explain how a variety of specific cell organelles would relate to the cell functions: neurons, red blood cells, sperm cells, white blood cells, and muscle cells. o Recognize difference between plant and animal cells. o Explain the different roles of vacuoles in animal and plant cells. o Understand that chloroplasts and cell walls are only found in plant cells because of their function. fluid mosaic model: structural model of the plasma membrane where phospholipids and proteins float within the surface of the membrane transport proteins: proteins that move needed substances or waste materials through the plasma membrane into or out of the cell Communication among cells within an organism o Understand that chemical signals, such as hormones, are responsible for communication among cells (i.e. muscle / nerve cell communication). o Understand that chemical signals of one cell can influence the activity of another cell (increasing protein production). o Explain that hormones are made by one type of cell; travel through the organism; and influence the activity other cells within the organism. o Explain that chemical signals are received by cells through receptor proteins that are embedded within the plasma membrane of the cell.