Ecology and Conservation - L9 EF_LessonPlan_02: Population Sizes

Erin Tuen-Wing Fan

Date 12/01/2013

Lesson Name Population Ecology - Population Sizes

Subject IB Biology HL

Grade Level 11

Unit Name Ecology and Conservation

Unit Essential Question: How is the state of dynamic equilibrium that exists within ecosystems essential for the continuity of life? Lesson Objective(s): Students will k now and be able to 1. Distinguish between r-strategies and K-strategies. 2. Describe one technique used to estimate the population size of an animal species based on a capturemark releaserecapture method. 3. Understand and calculate the Lincoln index (which involves one mark releaserecapture cycle) Population size = (n1 x n2) / n3 n1 = number of individuals initially caught, mark ed and released n2 = total number of individuals caught in the second sample, n3 = number of mark ed individuals in the second sample.

Massachusetts STE Curriculum Frameworks: Topic: Ecology Central Concept: Ecology is the interaction among organisms and between organisms and their environment. Content Standard: 6.1 Explain how birth, death, immigration, and emigration influence population size. 6.2 Analyze changes in population size and biodiversity (speciation and extinction) that result from the following: natural causes, changes in climate, human activity, and the introduction of invasive, non-native species Scientific Inquiry Sk ills: SIS1. Mak e observations, raise questions, and formulate hypotheses. SIS3. Analyze and interpret results of scientific investigations. SIS4. Communicate and apply the results of scientific investigations.

Key Terms/Concepts/Equations r-strategies, K-strategies, immigration, emigration, capture-mark-release-recapture

Materials (for Students & Teacher) - reproductive strategies do-now worksheet - penguin flipper bands article (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketsci

Ecology and Conservation - L9 Lincoln index: Population size = (n1 x n2) / n3

Erin Tuen-Wing Fan ence/2011/01/12/flipper-bands-impair-penguin-su rvival-and-breeding-success/#.Up1KrcQXRbk)

Lesson Details Reproductive Strategies Do-Now Worksheet (attached) Review Do-Now as class Think-Pair-Share Imagine that you are trying to determine the population of sea turtles in a lake. It is impossible to dive in to count each and every one of them. Describe different methods you could use to estimate the population. Board lecture on random sampling, Capture-Mark-Release-Rec apture, and Lincoln index

Teacher Actions - Patrol classroom - Offer assistance to students - Guide students to correct answers - Present scenario - Patrol classroom - Offer guidance to groups - Request contribution from groups for the sharing portion of activity

Student Actions - Individually work on worksheet as review of previous class - Offer answers

Time 5 min 5 min

- Discuss possible methods to estimate populations - Outline steps of methods if necessary - Record important discussion ideas in notebooks

20 min

Exit ticket

- Connect student ideas to estimation methods used by scientists - Introduce different methods of estimating population - Explain Lincoln index (with examples) - Present question: How do scientists determine which population estimation method to use? What is the importance of choosing careful marking techniques?

- Contribute to class discussion - Take notes - Calculate Lincoln index for example scenarios

10 min

- Complete exit ticket question

5 min

Homework/Assessment Read penguin flipper bands article and highlight/underline key points (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/01/12/flipper-bands-impair-penguin-survival-an d-breeding-success/#.Up1KrcQXRbk) Article highlights importance of choosing careful marking techniques in population studies.

Ecology and Conservation - L9

Erin Tuen-Wing Fan

Name: __________________ Date: ___________________

Reproductive Strategies Do-Now Worksheet

Species reproductive cycles are the product of natural selection a. Distinguish between r- and K- reproductive strategies :

short small, quick early many, once, un-nurtured low bacteria, mosquitoes, small mammals, weeds

Life span Growth Maturity Offspring Competition Examples

long larger, slowly late few, repeatedly, nurtured high humans, large mammals, elephants, blue whales

b.

State some species that could be considered exceptions to this theory.

both r and K: large trees, sea turtles, reptiles, etc. changing strategies: fruit flies c. Discuss the environmental conditions which favour either r- or K-strategies.

r: unstable, changing, post-environmental change k: stable, established

d.

Using r-K strategist theory, describe how disasters can lead to outbreaks of disease.

pest species and disease proliferate following ecological change or a disaster as there are new opportunities for reproduction and colonization 3