Project Description
To understand how humans have a lasting impact on species or populations, and the environment. The using this information we were to find ways to minimize human's impact on the environment, and come up with a solution to prioritize environmental issues. Out team decided to save the rare polygonum hickmanii, thinking that if a producer is removed the rest of the food chain dependent on its population would cease to exist.
Key Terms and Concepts
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Ecological Organization
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Relationships
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Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
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Energy Flow
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Cycles
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Climate
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Individual: One organism
Population: Multiple organisms in close proximity that interact.
Community: Multiple populations that interact.
Ecosystem: Communities combined with abiotic factors
Biome: Ecosystems with similar characteristics
Biosphere: All the biomes
Population: Multiple organisms in close proximity that interact.
Community: Multiple populations that interact.
Ecosystem: Communities combined with abiotic factors
Biome: Ecosystems with similar characteristics
Biosphere: All the biomes
Symbiosis: The interaction of organisms in close proximity
- Competitions (-/-): Individuals that need the same resource, where one must win.
- Parasitism/Consumption (+/-): One organisms feeds on another.
- Commensalism (+/0): One organism benefits as the other has no effect (Ex. Barnacles on a whale)
- Mutualism (+/+): Both benefit (Rhinos and Birds; pollination)
- Independent: Affects the population density due to events independent of the population density (weather, mudslides, forest fires, etc. )
- Dependent: Affects the population due events dependent of the population density (disease, space, water, food, other resources, etc.)
Photosynthesis: The process by which chloroplasts, only in plant cells, use water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight to create glucose (sugar), and oxygen. This ability makes plants autotrophs, as they can supply their own source of food (sugar). [A similar process exists called chemosynthesis, that happens without sunlight]
Cellular Respiration: The process of reverting photosynthesis done my the mitochondria, in all cells. Since this mechanism consumes energy to create energy. This is an autotrophic and heterotrophic system. Since this is the reverse of photosynthesis, the reactants of photosynthesis are the products of cellular respiration, with the creation of 38 ATP. If it is aerobic, carbon dioxide, water, and ATP are made, but if it is anaerobic fermentation occurs
Cellular Respiration: The process of reverting photosynthesis done my the mitochondria, in all cells. Since this mechanism consumes energy to create energy. This is an autotrophic and heterotrophic system. Since this is the reverse of photosynthesis, the reactants of photosynthesis are the products of cellular respiration, with the creation of 38 ATP. If it is aerobic, carbon dioxide, water, and ATP are made, but if it is anaerobic fermentation occurs
The sun is the source of all energy for an ecosystem. This energy is used by autotrophic producers (plants), and is consumed by primary, secondary, tertiary..., top-level, and apex predators/consumers, which later die to be a resource for detrivores or gets digested into solid by decomposers. Only 10% of energy consumed from the lower trophic level consumer to the higher ones is extracted to the higher level organism. 90% is lost as heat from daily activities. There are more more lower-trophic level organisms than the higher ones, but all organisms contribute to their environment with their certain responsibility, their job to their ecosystem (niche).
Presentation
Reflection
I will say time management and group work was a challenge in this project. Initially we thought of ridding a local invasive species, like the Ice Plants of Point Reyes, but another group had already gone underway with the idea, so it longer to brainstorm ideas to move the project along. Although a lot of research was completed, inclusivity of group members were lacking. The group functioned fine as a three-person groups, but a fourth resource would help move the process along faster. For the first time, for the group members that worked, once a task was given, our teammates would instantly look into other tasks to take care of, especially considering that two of our team members and myself, were in the thick of musical season. Knowing this we also set planned deadlines so that our already hectic schedules wouldn't need to carry more of a load. This allowed work to be held accountable and done in time for the end for this project. Although there were issues with team work and set backs with the early stages of the project, our team made up for these inconveniences with intense productivity, time management, and responsibility for their work.
-Nihal Nazeem.
-Nihal Nazeem.