Name:

GRADE 7 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

At the conclusion of this unit you will understand that…

• Abiotic factors affect organisms and their interactions within an environment.
• The roles and relationships organisms take on within a community impact populations within an ecosystem.

Inquiring scientific minds will be able to answer these essential questions...

• How do plant and animal characteristics help organisms survive in their environment?
• How do the abiotic and biotic factors affect an ecosystem?
• What are some ways that organisms are classified within a food web?
• What are the various niches and relationships among organisms in a habitat?
• What are some variables/environmental factors that affect population sizes and behaviors?
• What are the characteristics of the different biomes?
• What is the transfer of energy within a food pyramid including the biomass relationships?

Key Scientific Concepts/Vocabulary…

conservation	ecology	biosphere	carrying capacity
threatened species	endangered species	limiting factors	photosynthesis
succession	climax community	parasite	host
abiotic	biotic	biome	commensalism
environment	habitat	niche	scavenger
symbiosis	mutualism	parasitism	producer
consumer	herbivore	carnivore	omnivore
predator	prey	community	decomposer
food chain	food web	energy pyramid	Extinction
population	ecosystem	secondary consumer	primary consumer

Young ecologists will be able to….

· Design and label a food web.

· Describe roles and relationships within an environment.

· Describe the differences between biotic and abiotic factors.

· Describe major characteristics of biomes.

· Select appropriate lab equipment.

· Demonstrate safe and appropriate use of lab equipment.

· Effectively communicate results.