Course title

Pre-requisite

Course description

Ecology provides an understanding of how living organisms interact with their environment. Topics include climate; weather; water systems; ecosystems; biodiversity and population growth as well as pollution and other human impacts. This is accomplished through lecture; lab and group activities/discussion. Pre-req.: A grade of a C- or better in Biology.

Sample Lab
Groundwater Contamination Lab:

The effect of surface contamination on groundwater supplies

In many parts of the United States; drinking water is supplied by underground wells. In fact; over 130 million Americans get their water from underground water supplies. Although this water varies in quality; it usually comes directly from the ground clean and safe to drink?at least it has in the past. In recent years there have been more and more reports of tainted wells and polluted ground water

In this lab you will explore how layers of earth act as a filter for groundwater supplies. You will make models of the Earth?s natural filtration system and put them to the test to see how well they filter out various substances.

Materials:

250 ml beakers; graduated cylinder; stirring rods; glucose solution; red food coloring; motor oil; fertilizer; detergent; antifreeze; 12 oz. cups; thumbtack; metric ruler; gravel; sand; and soil

Procedures:

1. Label beakers with contaminant name and one for water (control)
2. Fill beakers with 150 ml of clean water then add to each beaker the designated contaminant. Stir each mixture thoroughly
3. Carefully observe each beaker. State your hypothesis and predictions of which contaminants will be filtered out by the ground filtration system and which will not.
4. Create a data table in the results section similar to the one below and record initial data

Contaminant Appearance Measurements
Surface Water Groundwater Surface Water Groundwater
Water (control)
Glucose
Food Coloring
Fertilizer
Motor Oil
Detergent
Antifreeze

5. Set the beakers aside and make 7 ground filtration systems. To do this; use a thumbtack to poke siz holes in the bottoms of 7 plastic cups. Then fill each cup with layers of gravel; sand; and soil. Make each model identical to the next. Be sure to leave 2 cm of space between the surface of the soil and the top of the cup.
6. One at a time; stir the water mixtures in its beaker and immediately pour it through an earth filtration system into a clean beaker.
7. Once each water mixture has been filtered; observe the resulting ?groundwater? and record the results in the table
8. Compare your results with the results of other groups

Conclusion:

In the conclusion section be sure to include the answers to the following questions:
1. Which contaminants were removed from the water by filtration? How do you know?
2. How accurate were your initial prediction?
3. What generalizations can you make about what substances will or will not be filtered by the natural percolation of surface water down through the earth?
4. What precautions do you recommend for keeping ground water clean?

Course Syllabus
Course Syllabus for Ecology Lab Spring 2010; Mrs. Murillo

Course Description: Ecology Lab helps students apply knowledge from lectures; which provide an understanding of how living organisms interact with their environment. Lab is worth 10% of Ecology course grade.

Texts and Materials:
Text. Environmental Science (Publisher: Holt; Orlando; FL 1996)

Materials: Pens (black or blue only)
Composition books
3-ring binder

Notebooks and Assignment Books
Notebook. Each student is required to have a section in 3-ring binder designated for course material to keep notes; handouts; and assignments organized.

Composition Books. Each student is required to have a composition book designated for lab assignments. All lab assignments should compose of a title; hypothesis and prediction; procedures; results and conclusion or answers to questions.

Labs:
The effect of prey density on predator success
The effect of competition on predator success
Natural Selection Lab: The effect of camouflage on allele frequency
Groundwater Contamination Lab: The effect of surface contamination on groundwater supplies
Effect of acid rain on plant growth
Global Warming Lab
Passive Solar Heating Lab
What causes a Population Explosion?

School country

School state

School city

High school

School / district Address

School zip code

Date submitted

Approved

Approved competency code

• LADV
• Advanced science

• LBIO
• Biology

Approved date

Online / Virtual