Lesson 2.01 Population Growth in Ecosystems

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Introduction

You have learned about the importance of energy within ecosystems and how this energy is transferred throughout the different parts of the environment. Through food webs, chains, and energy pyramids you were able to see how energy affected the number of organisms within each trophic level of an ecosystem. In Unit 2, you will explore and learn about factors that affect how and why populations grow or not.

Does your town have a city limit sign that indicates what the town's population is? The number on the sign tells you how many people live in a designated area. How often does the number change? Why does it change? Why do so many city limit signs not have a population number indicated?

In this unit, you will explore and learn about factors that affect how and why populations grow or not.

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to... Identify limiting factors that affect population growth. Describe how and why populations grow. Identify factors that determine an ecosystems carrying capacity. Enduring Understanding:   Both natural and human interference can alter the population of any ecosystem. The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Environmental Science Objective: 3 and 5 This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standard: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R10, W1, W2, W3, W4, W9, and W10