Field Study to Beaty Museum and Pacific Museum of the Earth December 9, 2014

We will visit the Beaty Biodiversity Museum and the Pacific Museum of the Earth at UBC on December 9.  Consent forms are due next monday. Map is here.  We will meet in the classroom 8:30am to take attendance.  Walk to Nanaimo Station and all take the UBC#25 bus, walk to Beaty museum. Take attendance again and enter the museum at 10am.  At 11am we cross the street to the Pacific Museum of the Earth.

Then we take a group picture and walk back to bus stop.  We arrive back at school during third block.

Ecological Succession

Section 3.1 Changes in Ecosystems: Ecological Succession

 Succession - the process by which organisms occupy an uninhabited space

Primary Succession: has no soil.  When there is rock, sand, volcanic ash or any other place with no nutrients, then organisms will occupy the space in a predictable way:

Steps
1.  rock, sand, volcanic ash
2.  pioneer species arrive:  moss, lichen.  These die and become humus, which becomes soil.
3. more nutrients allow the seeds of  grasses, weeds, and flowers to become established.  Now earthworms, beetles, microbes work on the soil
4.  more nutrients allow the seeds of bushes to come and grow
5.  Next fast growing trees like deciduous trees 
6.  a mature community of shade tolerant deciduous and  coniferous (evergreen trees) come.



Secondary succession
Steps
1.  soil already exists, such as after a major disaster like fire, flooding, clear cutting
2. grasses, weeds, flowers, beetles, earthworms, microbes
3. bushes
4. fast growing trees , deciduous.
5. mature community of large trees, deciduous and conifers (evergreens)

Nutrient Cycles, Our 2.2 quiz and using the Data Pages

You are permitted to use the  data pages during all of the exams this year.  You may access them by clicking on this link.

We are now at the end of 2.2 and take the time this coming period to ask questions and work through any concepts you do not yet understand.  Also, make a drawing of the root nodules of the clover plant and have a look at a leaf underneath the microscope.  Add these drawings to your carbon dioxide lab.

When you think you're ready for that Nutrient Cycle Quiz, then try it, but not before doing the 
Study guide  questions from pages 33 to 42 
Read and make notes on section 2.2 of your textbook.  

and try the biology questions on the sample exams on the ministry website

Effects of Bioaccumulation on Ecosystems

The Story of Stuff highlights how we are all organisms intimately connected with the ecosystem and toxins in our consumer products have an effect on us.

Homework: Read and do homework questions on section 2.2 of the Study Guide, pages 47 to 53 of the pdf document

Class Notes: 

How do toxins move through the trophic

Levels?                                                           Toxins concentrate up the trophic levels.  (notice that this is the opposite of what energy does).  Toxins may effect all the organisms in ecosystems.  If they harm KEYSTONE SPECIES, then the entire ecosystem may unravel.

Keystone species                                          a keystone species is the most important member of the ecosystem, without which, the entire ecosystem would collapse.  The keystone of a bog is sphagnum moss. the keystone of a pacific west coast rainforest is salmon.

Bioaccumulation                                              bioaccumulation is when toxin levels increase in organisms on the same trophic level

Biomagnification                                           toxins magnify going up the food pyramid.   An example is the pesticide DDT.  DDT is sprayed on crops.  These crops (corn) are eaten by rodents.  Each individual rodent has a higher dose of DDT compared to the individual corn plant.  The rodents are eaten by snakes, Each snake receives a higher dose than the individual rodent.  The snakes and rodents are consumed by a predator like a hawk or eagle.  This type of top predator receives the highest dose of all.  Similarly, in an aquatic ecosystem, the phytoplankton (producers) consume toxins that move to the zooplankton, small fish, bigger fish, sharks and whales.  The higher the trophic level, the greater concentration of toxins. 

Examples of toxins                                        

PCB – industrial residue, interferes with reproduction

HEAVY METALS

Lead – naturally occurring in soil, in manufacturing of paints, batteries, electronics, soldering.  Neurotoxin, reproductive toxin, kidney failure

Mercury – released through mining, burning fossil fuel, coal burning, a neurotoxin

Cadmium, manufacture of plastics and batteries.  Reproductive toxin

                                                                        Flame retardant:  found in new clothing

PPCPs : drugs, cosmetics, vitamins, antibiotics, sources: pharmaceutical companies (controlled), hospitals, residences (uncontrolled), agribusiness.

Examples of endocrine disrupters      estrogen mimics or estrogen, these reduce sperm count, cause fertility problems, and, in some amphibians:  change sex. 

                                                                        Phthalates: lining in canned food, plastic drink containers, some plastic food containers, plastic wrap, deodorant, cosmetic additive

Avoiding toxins                                                eat low on the food pyramid.  Plants and primary consumers have the lowest toxic load. 

                                                                        Eat organic

                                                                        Protect water sources:  ground water in Ontario was found to be contaminated with personal care products and pharmaceuticals      Use safe, natural personal care products:  olive oil as conditioner, vitamin e for lip balm.

A notice to those students going to the Advanced Molecular Biology Lab

November 12: two options:
meet at 7:35 AM in front of office
OR
board the #25 UBC  bus by 8am  to get to the UBC bus loop. Exit the bus and take the google map directions here: click on the picture below: