Unit 1: Sustaining Ecosystems & Weather

• In groups, consider the following questions:1. How are living and non-living things in our world connected?2. Why is it important to understand how things are connected?3. Think of specific examples of connectedness in your group .

Designate a recorder & speaker(s)

Here’s what you’ll learn:• What are the factors affecting sustainability of an ecosystem?• Sustainability issues• Biosphere• Observing and measuring changes in the atmosphere• Water cycle• Heat transfer in the atmosphere• Weather forecasting

An example of interconnectedness…

Malaria

90% of Malaria cases are in Africa, 2.7 million people die of malaria

each year in Africa.

Population of Africa - 933,448,292 people

Interconnectedness…

• Pest Control Chain ReactionTo treat a malaria outbreak in Borneo in the 1950s, the World Health Organization (WHO) sprayed DDT to kill mosquitoes. But the DDT also killed parasitic wasps which were controlling thatch-eating caterpillars. As a result, the thatched roofs of many homes fell down, and the DDT-poisoned insects were eaten by geckoes, which were in turn eaten by cats. The cats perished, which led to the multiplication of rats, and then outbreaks of sylvatic plague and typhus.To put an end to this destructive chain of events, WHO had to parachute 145,000 live cats into the area to control the rats.

THE SILENCE OF THE FROGS

Chapter 1.1

• Amphibians have been around for more than 400

million years.• Frogs and their relatives have adapted to the ice

age and global warming.• They can be found in most ecosystems that include

water.

• ECOSYSTEM – is a term used to describe the relationships among the many species living in an environment and the relationship among those organisms and the non-living components of the environment.

• Examples: Wetlands, marshes, deserts, lakes, oceans, forests.

Why are Scientists Concerned

• Many believe that the health of amphibians indicates the health of the ecosystem they live in.

• Amphi ( “on both sides”)• Bios ( “life” )• Meaning that Frogs have two lifes – water and

land

• Frogs occupy two different ecosystems• Tadpoles – water ecosystem• Adult Frogs – Land and Forest• Since they are in two ecosystems, they are also in

two FOOD CHAINS.

• FOOD CHAIN – Is a step-by-step sequence linking organisms that feed on each other, starting with a food source such as a plants (producers), and continuing with animals and other living things that feed on plants and on each other (consumers)

All food Chains start with Sun as it’s source of

energy!

• PRODUCER – an organism that can make their own food to give themselves energy.

• EXAMPLE: Plants, algae

• CONSUMERS: an organism that must get its energy by eating another organism ( cannot make their own food )

• EXAMPLE: animals

FROGS IN THEIR ECOSYSTEMS• What do adult frogs eat?• Insects ( mostly )• Small fish ( limited )

• What animals eat frogs?• Large fish• Predatory birds • Reptiles• Small mammals

• The adult frog is part of a food chain that

includes PRODUCERS, HERBIVORES , CARNIVORES , OMNIVORES.

• HERBIVORE – Organism that eat only plants • EXAMPLE : Deer, Cow• CARNIVORE – Organism that eats only

animals• EXAMPLE : Hawk, Tiger

• OMNIVORE : Organism that eats both plants and animals.

• EXAMPLE: Bears, Humans

• What do tadpoles eat?• Algae ( small plant-like organisms)• Both living and dead

• The Tadpole is a herbivore, where the adult frog is a carnivore. Therefore the Tadpole is in a different food chain.

• The Tadpole has two food sources:• 1. producers ( algae )• 2. Detritus

• DETRITUS – Waste from plants and animals, including their dead remains

• Detritus food chains are critical in the

recycling of matter in ecosystems.• Decomposers are in a Detritus food chain

which helps release nutrients to the soil and water. Plants and algae use those nutrients to grow.

• DECOMPOSERS – An organism that gets its energy by consuming and breaking down detritus.

• EXAMPLES: Bacteria, fungus

THE SILENCE OF THE FROGS (pg. 10-13 wksheet)

Questions 1-11

Food chainHandout

Food Chains

WHY ARE FROGS DISAPPEARING?

The Last Frog Video

After viewing the video, respond to the following:

1. List 3 reasons cited in the video that helps explain the disappearance of the frogs.

2. What are some things that WE can do as a society to help prevent further declination of the frog species?

What are the four major factors given in the text for frog decline?

1. LOSS OF HABITAT

This is mentioned as the main cause We are destroying the water with pollution We are cutting down forests We are building highways and cities

between the two ecosystems.

2. AIR AND WATER QUALITY

Frogs have thin skin and no protection from the sun.

Frogs breathe through their skin and by lungs.

Acid rain therefore can go through their skin

This affects their ability to reproduce

3. ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

The thin skin is also susceptible to UV radiation.

Frogs have adapted by developing a black skin and laying black eggs.

Scientists don’t believe that frogs will adapt as fast as global warming.

Why not that, beat the ice age!!!

4. CLIMATE CHANGES

Human activities are causing changes in the climate.

Increase use of fossil fuels ( coal, oil, gas). Climate changes affect the local

ecosystems.

PLEASE ANSWER QUESTIONS PAGE 13 - #2,3

Page 11 will help you with answers.