To begin class, we looked at our data from yesterday's "Oh, Deer!" population study and graphed our data.  Data was then analyzed and questions were answered on the document found here.  For those that were absent today or yesterday, you can find the data here; please complete and hand in when you return.

We then watched the following video:

​Some thinking questions for Monday:
1.  How did the pythons get to Florida?  Are there any feasible ways to prevent something like this from happening again?
2.  How are scientists and the community attempting to curb the population of pythons and reduce the effect they have on the Everglades?
3.  What ways do you think their efforts of snake removal could be improved?  Remember to think about the native species that are already here!
4.  Using the internet, find another example of an invasive species and answer the questions above regarding that organism.

This assignment will count as a minor grade, and will replace any minor grade during the second nine weeks (quiz, homework, lab grade).  Your task is to:
1.  Watch the following video (about 20 min.)
2.  Calculate your ecological footprint here.  Note:  You will need Adobe Flash for this and possibly your parents' help due to the nature of some of the questions.
3.  Choose one of the ecology infographics below and read through it.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Global Water Crisis
Effect of Overpopulation on Public Health
The Life Cycle of a Plastic Bag
The Environmental Impact of Cell Phones (seen below)
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3. Go to this document, and answer the questions found within.

Today we discussed population growth.  Please reference the applicable powerpoints to see what you missed today.

We played "Oh Deer!" today to see population growth in action.  Tomorrow we will look at and analyze our data.

Homework tonight is page 485, 487, 489-481.  Tomorrow will be a quiz over all ecology lessons this week.  Utilize any of the powerpoints in the folder to help you study!

Today, as a group, we completed the ecology learning stations found here.  If you were absent, please see me as to how to make up this work.

Videos for Stations:
Video #1:  Symbiosis: Mutualism, Commensalism, and Parasitism
Video #2:  ASAP Science: Parasites
Video #3: Tiny Hamster

Homework for tonight is pages 372-373, 378-379.

Today we discussed the trophic levels that comprise ecosystems on this planet and the various organisms that could fill each role.  The powerpoint can be found within the appropriate folder in Unit 5.

After our discussion, students were tasked with creating a food web containing the organism of their choice.  The food web can be done on paper or electronically and the requirements are found below.  The assignment is due Thursday, October 29.  Homework tonight is pages 365-369, 415-417 in your book.
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Use the speciation powerpoint to access information we discussed today.  Below you will find the interesting and informative videos that we watched to help illustrate various topics.

The Evolution of Life on Earth - ASAP Science

Today we discussed the vast amount of evidence that supports the Theory of Evolution, such as fossils, homologous/analogous structures, embryology, vestigial structures, and DNA.  The powerpoint with information (and fun pictures) can be found in the folder.

We also played "Guess the Embryo" on PBS NOVA's website.  You can play that game here.

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Homework tonight is pages 306-312 in your textbook and you should also complete the activities we started in class shown below.
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Today we looked at the path that Darwin traveled with the "Darwin's Voyage" activity from PBS.  

The website with applicable information can be found here.

Instructions for the assignment are given below, and the assignment is due tomorrow, October 15th.

Today we watched part of the documentary, Galapagos: the Islands That Changed the World, produced by the BBC.  It highlighted Darwin's voyage to the Galapagos islands, what he saw, and how it influenced his ideas on and our understanding of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.  I own this video if you were absent and would like to view it, or you can find it on youtube here (may not be the best quality).

Today we discussed how scientists classify the hugely diverse organisms on this planet.  Information regarding this topic can be found in the powerpoints folder.  

Students were to complete a shark dichotomous key using the information that we learned in class.  Upon completion, they were to choose an animal from a pre-constructed list found here (or have approval from teacher for another animal), and create a foldable showing the animal's classification.  The foldable must include the following:

- A cover of sorts with a picture of the animal and its scientific name correctly written (10 points)
- The correct Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species for the organism (40 points)
- At least 3 characteristics of each of the taxa (species can include 3 interesting facts about that organism) (25 points)
- A picture on each taxon that relates to the level of classification or the characteristics (25 points)  - Must be in color for full points


A very rudimentary example is shown below.  This assignment is due Wednesday, October 14th.

Homework this weekend is pages 289-294.

We discussed genetic manipulation today in class.  Please look at the appropriate powerpoint in the folder if absent or if you need additional help.  We also did a webquest which can be found on google classroom or in the documents folder.  The links for the web quest can be found below.

Genetic Fingerprinting

What Can We Use Fingerprinting For?

Cloning

Human Genome Project

12 Interesting Examples

Glowing Cats