| Middle School
- L.EC.M.1 Interactions of Organisms -"Organisms
of one species form a population. Populations of different
organisms interact and form communities. Living communities
and nonliving factors that interact with them form
ecosystems."
- Biodiversity
911This is a site that talks about how ecosystems
effect everything.
- Biodiversity Conservation Areas from the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources New
The Michigan
Biological Diversity Conservation Law and Conservation
Area Recommendation Process are explained. There
are related links on invasive species, state
parks, and other state lands.
- Biologically Speaking: Ecosystems and Cycles
of Nature Video New
This video shows the diversity
of ecosystems and how energy, water, temperature
and nutrients affect an ecosystem.
- Biomes New
This site lists different biomes
in the world and gives information about plant
and animal adaptations.
- Birds
of Prey
This lesson will help students further understand
the predator/prey relationship by researching
specific examples of birds (predators) and what
they eat to survive (prey)
- Blue
Planet Biomes
Good site that covers each of the Earth's biomes.
Supplies facts about our planet, its complex patterns
of biomes, plants, and animals, and how climates
ultimately determine the biomes of our Earth.
Easy to use and understand, good for all grade
levels.
- Ecosystems American Field Guide New
This site
has video clips on different ecosystems.
- Migratory Birds of the Great Lakes New
This
site explores the migratory birds in the Great
Lakes region and the ecosystems, especially the
lakes, rivers, and wetlands. It is from the University
of Wisconsin.
- Saginaw Bay Fish Community Survey 2006 New
State of Michigan report on Saginaw Bay ecosystem
and fish population.
- L.EC.M.2 Relationships of Organisms -"Two types
of organisms may interact with one another in several
ways: They may be in a producer/consumer, predator/prey,
or parasite/host relationship. Some organisms may
scavenge or decompose another. Relationships may be
competitive or mutually beneficial. Some species have
become so adapted to each other that neither could
survive without the other."
- Biodiversity
Hotspots
Outstanding!
Interactive world map of "Biodiversity Hotspots"
- 25 biological reservoirs which are threatened
such as the: Atlantic Forests, Brazilian Cerrado,
California Floristic Province, and Madagascar
and Indian Ocean Islands. Click on the map to
access general information and pictures of life
forms and geological features. Students can also
select "more information" which displays
a: (1) map and geological description, (2) "Vital
Signs" and, (3) "Ecosystem" and
"Hotspot in Depth" which provide PDF:
(a) maps, (b) lists of threatened endemic terrestrial
vertebrate species, (c) further reading, (d) glossary
and, (e) related links.
- Food
Chains and Food Webs
Outstanding!
This web site contains background information
and graphics regarding food chains and food webs.
Students can construct a possible food web on-line
which is printable. The "chain reaction activity"
is interactive also. Once students have placed
the objects in order the food chain becomes animated.
Finally, students are asked to remove the frog
to see how the population in a food chain affects
other populations (animated).
- Journey
North
Field observation "citizen science"
project for students. World wide study of seasonal
change and wildlife migration: (1) Caribou, (2)
Hummingbirds, (3) Manatee, (4) Monarch, (5) Robin,
(6) Whooping Crane, (7) Gray Whale and, (8) Signs
of Spring including "Tulip Garden".
Other projects include: (1) Phenology Data Exchange,
(2) "Unpave the Way for Wildlife", (3)
Weather and Migration and, (4) Symolic Migration.
Students can access current data which include
movies, calendars, maps, and can report their
sightings or ask a scientist questions.
- Ology- Biodiversity New
This site was created
by the American Museum of Natural History. It
includes activities, videos, book lists, etc.
to cover a wide variety of life science concepts.
It helps students learn how species affect one
another, as well as how humans impact the environment.
It would be appropriate for use with upper elementary
or middle school students.
- Population
Ecology
This site talks about the basics of symbiosis,
competition, mutualism, predator-prey relationships.
It gives examples and pictures in some of the
links.
- Predator
vs Prey Videos from National Georgraphic New
A collection of 24 short videos showing predator
vs prey, 30 sec. ads at the beginning.
- Teach
the Great Lakes - Non-Native Invasive Species
in the Great Lakes
Interactive site which provides maps, pictures,
and textual information on the Great Lake's ecosystem's
structure and the ecological impacts of nonindigenous
species: (1) Zebra Mussels, (2) Sea Lamprey, (3)
Spiny Water Flea, (4) Round Goby, (5) Ruffe, (6)
Rusty Crayfish, (7) purple loosestrife, (8) ballast
transport, (9) aquaculture accidental and intentional
releases and, 10) how to prevent their spread.
More information and references are also provided.
- The
Flow of Energy Through Plants and Animals
Students can investigate how energy flows
through living organisms. A description
of food chains is given and examples are visually
illustrated through hand drawn charts. A
variety of links are available on food chains,
energy flow, and photosynthesis. Unfamiliar
vocabulary words are defined at the click of a
button.
- What's
it like where you Live?
Outstanding:
This site is very user frendly. It contains the
different biomes of the world, freshwater resources,
and marine ecosystems. It also has great resources
and links to other related sites.
- L.EC.M.3 Biotic and Abiotic Factors -"The number
of organisms and populations an ecosystem can support
depends on the biotic (living) resources available
and abiotic (nonliving) factors, such as quality of
light and water, range of temperatures and soil composition.."
- CDIAC
Global Change Data
Database of information on global atmospheric
changes. Examples of the databases include carbon
cycle, carbon monoxide, aerosols, methane, greenhouse
gases, etc.
- Energy
Flow in Ecosystems
The site has websites and activities for teacher
to use. It is a unit on Energy Through Our Lives.
- Energy
Pyramid, Phytoplankton, and Food Chain
Show how phytoplankton flow through the food chain
as a energy source. The site also has other links
for this benchmark.
- Owls:
Top of a Food Chain
This site features a lesson plan for teachers
on dissecting owl pellets, owl pictures and their
sounds. The focus of the lesson is on relationships
among food chains and energy transfer through
different levels of the food chains. Students
are reminded that energy initially comes from
the sun. Included in the lesson are worksheets,
assessment ideas, and links leading to other "bird
topics."
- Understanding
the Global Carbon Cycle
The site has information and diagrams of the carbon
cycle plus several links on carbon and land usage,
plus much more. The site is from the Woods Hole
Research Center.
- L.EC.M.4 Environmental Impact of Organisms -"All
organisms (including humans) cause change in the environment
where they live. Some of the changes are harmful to
the organism or other organisms, whereas others are
helpful."
- Ecological
Succession
This site has an interactive component that
allows the reader to slide the mouse over a timeline
to see the succession graphics change over time.
- Natural
Resources, the Environment, and Ecosystems
Six topics relate to how people change
ecosystems. First, students will study effects
of climate on ecosystems using 3 activities which
consist of growing tomato plants, growing grass,
and research. The second topic is wildlife.
Students will research an animal's needs of an
ecosystem and look at the needs of local wildlife.
The third topic, integrated pest management, uses
math by providing students with a table in which
they will analyze crop yield. The fourth
topic compares soils; the fifth topic introduces
sustainable agriculture with a poster presentation
activity. The last topic is titled web of
life and provides 5 activities to show interdependence
within an ecosystem. Most activities have
discussion questions or writing prompts.
- Rainforest
Network
Colorful site that has a Kids Corner and various
other links. Describes why the rainforest is important
to the earth's environment. Good information on
the effects of pollution, hunting, etc. Includes
a quiz and updates on environmental issues worldwide.
This site is good, but not interactive.
- Sea
Grant Nonindiginous Species Site
This site can serve as a good supplement to
teacher lesson. Student can conduct a search here
or click on "Species" There they can choose from
Plant, Mollusk, Fish or Crustacean, where they
will get a picture and description of the species
and their effects on the rest of the lake ecosystem
food web. 3D movies are included on some of the
links. Teachers may use this as an example of
species that are introduced to an ecosystem (e.g.
spiny water flea) and their effects on other populations.
The fish cannot eat the spiny water flea, but
can eat regular water fleas, therefore students
can predict that the spiny water flea populations
will take over the other water fleas and thereby
decrease the predator fish population.
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