UNIT A: Interactions and Ecosystems

Unit Checklist

  Unit A: Key Ideas

Focus On: Interactions and Ecosystems

This unit has four sections that are dedicated to helping you understand the basics of interactions and ecosystems. Each section has a key idea indicated by its title and is divided into lessons. Click each key idea tab below to view the lesson titles and some key questions you will investigate.

Section 1 Key Idea: Ecosystems are communities of living things

Lesson A1: What Is An Ecosystem?
Key Question – How do organisms interact with each other and with their non-living environment?

Lesson A2: Needs of Living Things
Key Question – What does an organism need to grow and reproduce?

Lesson A3: Relationships and Adaptations
Key Question – How do organisms benefit or harm one another?

Section 2 Key Idea: Energy flows in cycles in ecosystems.

Lesson A4: Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers
Key Question – How do organisms provide food for other organisms?

Lesson A5: Energy Flow In Ecosystems
Key Question – How does energy transfer from one organism to another?

Lesson A6: Ecosystem Cycles
Key Question – How do water and nutrients flow in an ecosystem?

Section 3 Key Idea: Humans have the potential to damage and renew ecosystems.

Lesson A7: Ecosystem Research
Key Question – How do we monitor and understand an ecosystem?

Lesson A8: Ecosystem Invaders
Key Question – What happens when a new species enters an ecosystem?

Lesson A9: Survival In Ecosystems
Key Question – How do organisms compete for limited resources?

Lesson A10: Ecosystem Destruction and Renewal
Key Question – Does a forest fire or flood mark the end of an ecosystem?

Section 4 Key Idea: Some ecosystems require protection.

Lesson A11: How Humans Damage Ecosystems
Key Question – Can an ecosystem adapt to pollution or loss of habitat?

Lesson A12: How Humans Harm Other Species
Key Question – Can we save species that are threatened or endangered?

Lesson A13: Ecological Footprints
Key Question – What is your footprint and how can you minimize it?

Lesson A14: Sustainable Ecosystems
Key Question – Can we sustain a healthy ecosystem and live in it too?

Lesson A15: Alberta Parks
Key Question – What kinds of roles do our parks have in protecting wildlife habitats?