Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Finishing Biomes

Today students started with a short jump in on seashores. Then they participated in a "This or That?" Challenge. There were a couple of bonuses that pushed some students scores over the top. Top scores went to Elijah, Heidi, Jessica, Micheal, and Carlton (and maybe someone else).

We finished up biome notes today by discussing salt marshes and tidal flats, mangroves, and the photic vs. aphotic.

Salt Marshes are one of the most productive ecosystems, but nothing eats the salt marsh grass when its alive... once the anaerobic bacteria break it down into black mush, then other organisms eat it.

Mangroves are trees that can grow in salt water. They have crazy prop roots or finger like roots called pneu- mato- phores that stick up out of the water so the tree can get oxygen during high tide. The roots provide a lot of substrate that a lot of fouling organisms will colonize and use as habitat.

Photic vs Aphotic is an odd one involving the light and dark zones of the ocean. Some organisms hide in teh dark aphotic zone during the day and migrate up to the surface (the photic zone) at night to eat the phytoplankton. Predators also migrate to eat the things that are eating the phytoplankton.

We finished class with a partner challenge identifying and classifying the biomes by their characteristics. The top score went to Elijah and Jeremiah.

The Unit 3 Test will be on Friday. Packets will be due at that time.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Computer Lab Etiquette

You are in the computer lab to do work for this class. If you are not doing work, then we will have problems.

Do not pack up early. Work until the bell or until MsJ says.

SAVE OFTEN. And if you save to a key, also save it to your number. If you lose it, you will have to do it again.

If MsJ asks for your attention, stop what you are doing and listen to what she has to say.

You may watch videos about your organism through reliable websites.

You may listen to music through the computer if you have your own headphones. Rule1 MsJ cannot hear it. You get one warning. Rule2 Turn it on and listen – no million clicks and constant changing. Take both ear phones out when MsJ is talking.