1st 9-weeks:
     We will spend the first 5 weeks examining the essential components of the environment.  The basic terminology and concepts of this material is essential to the remainder of the year. 

Topics for the 1st grading period are as follows:
     1.  Basic vocabulary.  Ecological principals and their application.  First and Second Laws
of Thermodynamics.  (NOTE - The vocabulary of this unit is critically important.  These
terms will be used for the entire school year.  Failure to master these terms will result in
academic difficulties throughout the entire school year.)
     2.  Phylum Chordata and the vertebrate classes.
     3.  Populations:  Growth and regulation.  
     4.  Succession (changes through time).
     5.  The role of fire in natural communities.

I.  Basic vocabulary:  The following terms must be mastered at the beginning of the course.  A thorough understanding of these terms is essential to all material covered for the remainder of the year.

1.  ecology 2.  environmental science 3.  environment 4.  organism 5.  habitat 6.  producers (including the process of           photosynthesis) 7.  consumers 8.  herbivore 9.  carnivore 10. omnivore 11. food chain and food web 12. trophic levels 13. decomposer 14. scavenger

15.  detritus 16.  mutualism 17.  commensalism 18.  parasitism 19.  organic 20.  inorganic 21.  biotic 22.  abiotic 23.  ecosystem 24.  terrestrial 25.  aquatic 26.  biomass 27.  fossil fuels 28.  predator/prey 29.  parasite/host

II.  Phylum Chordata.  At the completion of this unit, all students should be able to:
 (1)  identify or state the characteristics of Chordates.
 (2)  identify or state the characteristics of the Vertebrate classes.
 (3)  identify which Vertebrate class different kinds of animals are grouped in.

III.  Population growth and regulation.   In this unit, we will examine the characteristics of a
population, dynamics of population growth, the factors in nature that act to limit population
growth rates, and human population dynamics.

Vocabulary and concepts for the population unit.

1.  natality     2.  mortality     3.  biotic potential    4.  carrying capacity    5.  limiting factors    6.  predation     7.  parasitism     8.  competition    9.  territory             10.  home range

11.  immigration 12.  emigration 13.  migration 14.  population density 15.  community 16.  biotic population control agents 17.  human population growth rates 18.  comparison of population control factors in the        regulation of human population size vs. other         animal populations.

IV.  Succession.  The natural sequence of communities in new biotic communities or where
exiting communities have been destroyed.

Vocabulary and concepts:

1.  primary succession
2.  secondary succession
3.  the natural sequence of communities in both types of succession.
4.  lichens
5.  weeds
6.  broomsedge
7.  American Beech
8.  Southern Magnolia
9.  Longleaf pine

V.  Fire ecology.  This is a detailed look at the role of  fire in natural communities.  The entire
unit is built around the seven major benefits of fire.

1.  Historical overview of Fire in North America.
2.  National Forests in Florida.
3.  The longleaf pine/wire grass community; it’s importance, past and present.
4.  Hardwood communities in the Southeaster U.S.
5.  Introduction to the natural flora and fauna of North America.

Approximate time lines for each unit will be given at the beginning of each unit.