Unit A

Introduction

Earth's source of energy from the Sun is infinite, as far as is known. This energy flows through the biosphere and constantly transfers from producers to consumers. Matter, such as carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus, is finite and, therefore, needs to cycle or the supply of matter will run out. Humans are one animal species involved in these processes that have a great impact on the flow of energy and the cycling of matter. Human influence on balance in the biosphere can be positive (e.g., a helpful technology) or negative (e.g., pollution) and intentional or unintentional.


Big Ideas

This unit has two modules and investigates the flow of energy and matter through the biosphere. There is an energy and matter balance achieved through photosynthesis, cellular respiration, and biogeochemical cycles.

Specifically, you should be able to
  • explain the constant flow of energy through the biosphere and ecosystems
  • explain the cycling of matter through the biosphere
  • explain the balance of energy and matter exchange in the biosphere, as an open system, and explain how this maintains equilibrium

 Key Concepts

Concepts that you should be able to explain by the end of this unit are

  • the flow of energy through an open system (the biosphere and ecosystems)
  • energy storage in the biosphere
  • the flow of energy through trophic levels
  • biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus) and their importance to the biosphere and ecosystem

 Skills

Skills that you should be able to do by the end of this unit are

  • explain and show, quantitatively, the flow of energy through an ecosystem (e.g. food web, food chain, a pyramid of energy)
  • analyze, interpret, and draw pyramids of energy, pyramids of biomass, and pyramids of numbers for various ecosystems
  • describe the chemical properties of water and apply them to functions in the biosphere and ecosystems

In This Unit

This unit is organized into two modules.
  1. Module 1 - Energy and Matter Flow in the Biosphere
  2. Module 2 - Ecosystem Productivity

Assessments

There are five graded assessments in Unit A.


  1. Unit A: Section 1 Assignment
  2. Unit A: Section 2 Assignment
  3. Unit A Summative
  4. Unit A: Section 3 Assignment
  5. Unit A Test