Review for Unit Test

I missed a few days here on the blog. Last week we finished up our Line Transect Surveys and interpreted our results. This week we looked at invasive species in NC. We learned about the Chestnut Blight that killed off most of the the American Chestnut trees and the new blight resistant trees that are being planted to see if they can make it to maturity. We have three of those trees here on campus. Today we started our reviewing for the Unit Test that is going to be Friday, November 5th. Here is the GoogleDocs link for the Study Guide: Ecology Unit Study Guide.

Line Transects

We went into the woods near the Middle School and started our Line Transect Surveys. We stretched a line 10 meters long and counted and identified every species that we could find within a meter of the line. We are doing this in two different locations near the Middle School and will then compare our results and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this sort of a survey. No Homework this week.

Nitrogen Cycle Game

Today we played a game that represents the flow of nutrients (Carbon and Nitrogen) through the food web. It was not the most perfect model, but it emphasized how the movement of these elements is cyclic and showed how these nutrients change form and become more or less available depending on where they are in the cycle. We discussed several questions relating to the flow of nutrients and how the game tried to show this.

The Nitrogen Cycle

Today everyone got their quizzes back. For Homework, some people need to redo some of their answers. We read about the Nitrogen Cycle and looked at a diagram that shows how nitrogen-fixing bacteria make atmospheric nitrogen available for plants. Tomorrow we will play a board game that illustrates how nitrogen moves in and out of the food chain, the atmosphere and the soil.

Eco Quiz #2

We had our second ecology quiz today. It covered the water cycle and the carbon cycle, photosynthesis and the movement of biocides through food chains. Here is a link to the quiz. Eco Quiz #2. We spent some time after the quiz looking at some numbers for the amounts of Carbon dioxide that are involved in the Carbon Cycle. Check out this chart from NASA on the Carbon Cycle.

Quiz Review

Tuesday we reviewed for the quiz on Wednesday. It covered the Carbon Cycle, the Water Cycle, Photosynthesis and Respiration, and how Biocides can concentrate as they move through Food Chains.

Medicinal and Edible Plants

Today we walked around outside the classroom and collected more plant samples for our Science Notebooks. In addition to identifying the plants, we also learned some of the uses of these different plants. We learned that you can eat most of the parts of the Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), that Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is used to cure a headache, Common Plantain (Plantago major) is good for bee stings and drawing out infection, and that Sour Grass (Oxalis europaea) is a good thirst quencher. We compared two very similar looking plants as well: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota). No Homework, but there will be a quiz on Wednesday, October 13th on the water cycle, the carbon cycle and photosynthesis, and biocides in the food web.
Last week was block schedule, we had the field trip to New Hope Creek on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday we tested our water samples for Phosphates, Nitrates and Nitrites, and Sulphates. After we summarized all of our tests and counting up the species present, we decided that the creek is pretty clean.

New Hope Creek

Today we had block schedule and 1st and 3rd period classes went to Johnston's Mill Preserve on New Hope Creek. We took a survey of stream invertebrates, gathered water samples for testing, took air and water temperatures, measured pH and explored around the site of the old mill. Thursday when we are back in class we will analyze our results and see if we can determine the overall health of the stream.

Stream Ecology and Carbon Cycling

Last Friday we did not have class because of the Fall Weekend Break. Thursday we continued going over notes on Ecosystem Ecology and started mapping out the Carbon Cycle. We continued this today and went into a little more detail with mineralization, respiration, and carbon storage. We prepared ourselves for the Field Trip to New Hope Creek on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. We will be looking at stream invertebrates to gauge the health of the stream and get a better sense of this local stream ecosystem. Since it will be a little cold in the morning everyone should dress warmly and wear shoes (no sandals/flipflops) for walking on the rocks.